Neuronal activity in the ipsilateral medial vestibular nucleus of the guinea pig following unilateral labyrinthectomy

Abstract

The recovery of normal ocular motor and postural behavior following unilateral labyrinthectomy (vestibular compensation) has been attributed to the return of normal resting activity to neurons in the bilateral vestibular nuclei. However, previous studies in the cat have reported that average resting activity recovers to no more than 50% of the normal value in neurons in the vestibular nucleus ipsilateral to the labyrinthectomy even after 4 months post-operation (post-op.), despite the fact that, for some symptoms, vestibular compensation is complete by this time. The present data demonstrate that in the guinea pig, normal average resting activity is restored to type I neurons in the ipsilateral medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) by 52-60 h post-op., although type I neurons remain scarce compared to normal. This recovery of resting activity correlates with the compensation of spontaneous nystagmus and postural asymmetries by 52 h post-op. which we have previously reported. In addition, the present data further confirm that the recovery of type I resting activity in the ipsilateral MVN is not due to recovery of resting activity in ipsilateral Scarpa's ganglion neurons or to input from the dorsal brainstem commissures.