Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.  2018 Jul;22(4):363-368. 10.4196/kjpp.2018.22.4.363.

Role of peripheral vestibular receptors in the control of blood pressure following hypotension

• Jin GS
• Li XL
• Jin YZ
• Kim MS
• Park BR

• KMID: 2414260
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4196/kjpp.2018.22.4.363

Abstract

Hypotension is one of the potential causes of dizziness. In this review, we summarize the studies published in recent years about the electrophysiological and pharmacological mechanisms of hypotension-induced dizziness and the role of the vestibular system in the control of blood pressure in response to hypotension. It is postulated that ischemic excitation of the peripheral vestibular hair cells as a result of a reduction in blood flow to the inner ear following hypotension leads to excitation of the central vestibular nuclei, which in turn may produce dizziness after hypotension. In addition, excitation of the vestibular nuclei following hypotension elicits the vestibulosympathetic reflex, and the reflex then regulates blood pressure by a dual-control (neurogenic and humoral control) mechanism. In fact, recent studies have shown that peripheral vestibular receptors play a role in the control of blood pressure through neural reflex pathways. This review illustrates the dual-control mechanism of peripheral vestibular receptors in the regulation of blood pressure following hypotension.

Keyword

Dizziness; Epinephrine; Glutamate; Hypotension; Vestibulosympathetic reflex

MeSH Terms

Blood Pressure*
Dizziness
Ear, Inner
Epinephrine
Glutamic Acid
Hair Cells, Vestibular
Hypotension*
Reflex
Vestibular Nuclei
Epinephrine
Glutamic Acid

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 A block diagram shows the pathway of the neurogenic and humoral control in the vestibulosympathetic reflex.The solid line is based on the results obtained in our studies. VNC, Vestibular nuclear complex; RVLM, Rostral ventrolateral medullary nuclei; IMC, Intermediolateral cell column of the spinal cord; AM, Adrenal medulla; NTS, Nucleus tractus solitarius; CVLM, Caudal ventrolateral medullary nucleus [54 with permission].

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