Spontaneous, Positional, Positioning and Post Head Shaking Nystagmus in Unilaterally Labyrinthectomized Cats

Chae, Sa Yong; Jeon, Eun Ju

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Unilateral vestibular dysfunction evokes many bothersome symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, vertigo, ataxia, and positional change. We attempted to understand the vestibular signs after a loss of unilateral vestibular function. MATERIALS & METHOD: We evaluated the serial changes of eye movements and body posture after unilateral labyrinthectomy which was performed on five cats. Data obtained from three of these cats. The eye movements were measured in vertical, horizontal and torsional planes using magnetic search coils, with eyes open in light and eyes open in darkness. The eye movements were recorded with head in neutral, tilted, hanging, and Dix-Hallpike position, and after head was shaken.
RESULTS
1) Spontaneous nystagmus was present for the first three days. 2) Head tilting positional nystagmus was present only on the first day after the operation. Head hanging position produced nystagmus with high slow phase eye velocity for 4 weeks. 3) Positioning nystagmus was recorded for 4 weeks and it was more prominent when labyrinthectomized ear was undermost. 4) Head shaking nystagmus around the pitch and roll axis was evoked within one week, but in the yaw axis it persisted for 4 weeks. When the cat was tilted to the lesion side, the intensitiy of positional and positioning nystagmus was stronger.
CONCLUSION
Unusual positions such as head hanging and Dix-Hallpike position evoked prolonged nystagmus. Head shaking in the yaw axis could be used on a long term basis to understand unilateral vestibular dysfunction.