Apamin treatment accelerates equilibrium recovery and gaze stabilization in unilateral vestibular neurectomized cats: Cellular and behavioral aspects.

Apamin treatment accelerates equilibrium recovery and gaze stabilization in unilateral vestibular neurectomized cats: Cellular and behavioral aspects.
Neuropharmacology. 2018 Oct 23;:
Authors: Tighilet B, Leonard J, Mourre C, Chabbert C
Abstract
Sudden and complete unilateral loss of peripheral vestibular inputs evokes characteristic vestibular syndrome comprised of posturo-locomotor, oculomotor, vegetative and cognitive symptoms. Subsequently to the vestibular insult, a neurophysiological process called central vestibular compensation promotes the progressive restoration of the posture and balance. The modulation of the excitability of vestibular secondary neurons has been demonstrated to be a key process of this mechanism. However, the molecular mechanisms that support this modulatory process have thus far not been fully identified. The present study used a combination of a radio-labeled apamin binding experiment and a functional assessment of the vestibular function to demonstrate that unilateral vestibular neurectomy (UVN) induces both ipsi- and contralateral up-regulation of the apamin-sensitive calcium-activated small conductance K+ (SK) channels, within the first days following the insult. We also demonstrate that apamin administration during the acute phase of the vestibular syndrome significantly reduces both the posturo-locomotor and vestibulo-ocular deficits induced by the UVN. This is illustrated by the reduction of both ...

Source: Neuropharmacology - October 23, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tighilet B, Leonard J, Mourre C, Chabbert C Tags: Neuropharmacology Source Type: research