Res Vestib Sci.  2023 Dec;22(4):112-119. 10.21790/rvs.2023.22.4.112.

Unilateral Vestibulopathy Mimicking Inner Ear Ischemia Modeling Using Photothrombosis and Behavioral Assessment Using EthoVision

• Song MS
• Lee MY
• Choi JE
• Chang SY
• Lee JH
• Cuenca JP
• Carpena NT
• Jung JY

• KMID: 2549105
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21790/rvs.2023.22.4.112

Abstract

Objectives
Inner ear ischemic animal models using photochemical reactions have been devised in various ways. Localized vascular ischemia occurs with 532-nm laser irradiation after systemic rose bengal injection, a known photothrombotic mechanism. The aim of this study is to evaluate a photothrombosis-induced vestibulopathy mimicking behavioral changes in the inner ear ischemia model.
Methods
Seven-week-old male Spraque-Dawley rats were used. Animals were divided into three groups: control group (n=6), sham laser group (n=9), and laser group (n=9). To induce the photothrombosis, animals were injected with rose bengal into the femoral vein and then were irradiated with a 532-nm laser (175 mW for 900 seconds) via transtympanic membrane. To investigate the vestibulopathy after photothrombosis, the behavior tests (tail lift reflex test, air righting reflex test, rotarod test) were performed on the 1st, 3rd, and 7th days after surgery. Additionally, an open field test was conducted and analyzed using EthoVision XT (Noldus).
Results
The laser group exhibited significant behavioral change to mimic vestibulopathy in all assessments. Inducing photothrombosis with rose bengal caused severe gait instability, which precluded rotarod testing. In the tail lift reflex test, the laser group displayed vestibular dysfunction with a lower angle formation compared to the control rats. During the open field test, the laser group exhibited reduced mobility, a condition that persisted in the laser groups for 7 days.
Conclusions
Noninvasive laser irradiation using rose bengal and a 532-nm laser induces photothrombosis in the inner ear of animals, leading to the development of vestibulopathy mimicking imbalanced behavior.

Keyword

Inner ear; Ischemia; Lasers; Thrombosis; Imbalance; 내이; 허혈; 레이저; 혈전증; 전정불안정