Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2012;7(10):e47308.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0047308. Epub 2012 Oct 9.

Expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide in efferent vestibular system and vestibular nucleus in rats with motion sickness

Wang Xiaocheng  1 , Shi Zhaohui, Xue Junhui, Zhang Lei, Feng Lining, Zhang Zuoming
Affiliations

Expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide in efferent vestibular system and vestibular nucleus in rats with motion sickness

Wang Xiaocheng et al. PLoS One. 2012.

Abstract

Motion sickness presents a challenge due to its high incidence and unknown pathogenesis although it is a known fact that a functioning vestibular system is essential for the perception of motion sickness. Recent studies show that the efferent vestibular neurons contain calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). It is a possibility that the CGRP immunoreactivity (CGRPi) fibers of the efferent vestibular system modulate primary afferent input into the central nervous system; thus, making it likely that CGRP plays a key role in motion sickness. To elucidate the relationship between motion sickness and CGRP, the effects of CGRP on the vestibular efferent nucleus and the vestibular nucleus were investigated in rats with motion sickness.

Methods: An animal model of motion sickness was created by subjecting rats to rotary stimulation for 30 minutes via a trapezoidal stimulation pattern. The number of CGRPi neurons in the vestibular efferent nucleus at the level of the facial nerve genu and the expression level of CGRPi in the vestibular nucleus of rats were measured. Using the ABC method of immunohistochemistry technique, measurements were taken before and after rotary stimulation. The effects of anisodamine on the expression of CGRP in the vestibular efferent nucleus and the vestibular nucleus of rats with motion sickness were also investigated.

Results and discussion: Both the number of CGRPi neurons in the vestibular efferent nucleus and expression level in the vestibular nucleus increased significantly in rats with motion sickness compared to that of controls. The increase of CGRP expression in rats subjected to rotary stimulation 3 times was greater than those having only one-time stimulation. Administration of anisodamine decreased the expression of CGRP within the vestibular efferent nucleus and the vestibular nucleus in rats subjected to rotary stimulation. In conclusion, CGRP possibly plays a role in motion sickness and its mechanism merits further investigation.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Comparison of intake volume of saccharin solution before and after rotary stimulation in the four experimental groups.
A: rotary stimulation undosed; B: rotary stimulation saline dosed; C: rotary stimulation anisodamine dosed; D: control group. *P<0.05 as compared with the before rotary stimulation respectively. The reduction in group C was significantly less than those of group A and group B in the three 24 h intervals after rotary stimulation.
Figure 2
Figure 2. The CGRP positive cells in the vestibular efferent nucleus(magnification:10×20).
I: triple rotary stimulation with undosed; II: single rotary stimulation with undosed; III: single rotary stimulation with saline dosed; IV: single rotary stimulation with anisodamine dosed; V: control group, 4 V: 4th ventricle. Arrows show the CGRP positive cells in the vestibular efferent nucleus.
Figure 3
Figure 3. The numbers of CGRP positive cells in the efferent nucleus.
I: triple rotary stimulation with undoesd; II: single rotary stimulation with undoesd; III: single rotary stimulation with saline dosed; IV: single rotary stimulation with anisodamine dosed; V: control group.*P<0.05 for group I vs. group V and group II vs. group V; #P<0.05 for group IV vs. group II.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Expression of CGRPi fibers in the vestibular nuclei (magnification:10×10).
I; triple rotary stimulation with undoesd; II: single rotary stimulation with undoesd; III:single rotary stimulation with saline dosed; IV:single rotary stimulation with anisodamine dosed; V: control group. Arrows show the CGRPi fibers in the vestibular nuclei.
Figure 5
Figure 5. The mean optical density of CGRP immunoreactivity in the vestibular nuclei of rats.
I: triple rotary stimulation with undoesd; II: single rotary stimulation with undoesd; III: single rotary stimulation with saline dosed; IV: single rotary stimulation with anisodamine dosed; V: control group. *P<0.05 for group I vs. group V and group II vs. group V; #P<0.05 for group IV vs. group II.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Shupak A, Gordon CR (2006) Motion sickness: advances in pathogenesis, prediction, prevention, and treatment. Aviat Space Environ Med 77: 1213–23. - PubMed
    1. Buyuklu F, Tarhan E, Ozluoglu L (2009) Vestibular functions in motion sickness susceptible individuals. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 266: 1365–1371. - PubMed
    1. Kennedy RS, Drexler J, Kennedy RC (2010) Research in visually induced motion sickness. Appl Ergon 41: 494–503. - PubMed
    1. Golding JF (2006) Motion sickness susceptibility. Auton Neurosci 129: 67–76. - PubMed
    1. Zajonc TP, Roland PS (2006) Vertigo and motion sickness. Part II: Pharmacologic treatment. Ear Nose Throat J 85: 25–35. - PubMed

Publication types