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The Vestibular System

The Vestibular System

The vestibular system is a set of inner ear structures that provide a sense of balance and spatial orientation. This system is comprised of structures within the labyrinth of the inner ear, including the cochlea and two otolith organs—the utricle and saccule. The labyrinth also contains three semicircular canals—superior, posterior, and horizontal—that are oriented on different planes.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Surgical Labyrinthectomy of the Rat to Study the Vestibular System

Surgical Labyrinthectomy of the Rat to Study the Vestibular System

Published on: May 19, 2018

Effects of pre-flocculectomy on Fos expression and NMDA receptor-mediated neural circuits in the central vestibular

T Kitahara¹, M Fukushima, N Takeda

¹Department of Otolaryngology, Osaka University Medical School, Suita, Japan. tkitahara@ent.med.osaka-u.ac.jp

Acta Oto-Laryngologica

|January 2, 2001

Summary

The flocculus is crucial for vestibular compensation, reducing early symptoms and later modifying neural circuits. Removing it worsens balance deficits and impairs recovery.

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Last Updated: Jul 12, 2026

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Vestibular System Research
Animal Models

Background:

Vestibular compensation is the brain's process of restoring balance after vestibular injury.
The flocculus's role throughout vestibular compensation, from early to chronic stages, remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the flocculus's role in vestibular compensation at early and chronic stages.
To investigate the impact of flocculus removal on vestibular compensation markers.

Main Methods:

Unilateral labyrinthectomy (UL) in pre-flocculectomized (pre-UF) and control rats.
Assessment of spontaneous nystagmus (SN) as a behavioral marker.
Analysis of Fos expression in vestibular nuclei to indicate neural activity.
Administration of MK801 (NMDA receptor antagonist) at chronic stages.

Main Results:

Pre-flocculectomy exacerbated early vestibulo-ocular deficits and altered Fos expression patterns post-UL.
MK801 induced nystagmus in chronic pre-UF rats, indicating impaired compensation.
Floccular integrity is essential for normal recovery and NMDA receptor-mediated adjustments.

Conclusions:

The flocculus is vital for balancing intervestibular nuclear activity in the early stage of compensation.
It plays a role in modifying NMDA receptor-mediated neural interactions in the chronic stage.
These findings highlight the flocculus's dynamic and essential role in the entire vestibular compensation process.