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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
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Surgical Labyrinthectomy of the Rat to Study the Vestibular System
Published on: May 19, 2018
c-Fos expression in the mouse brainstem after unilateral labyrinthectomy
Jun Tsuji1, Norihiko Murai, Yasushi Naito
1Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. tsuji@ent.kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Acta Oto-Laryngologica. Supplementum
|April 25, 2007
Summary
Unilateral labyrinthectomy activates specific brain nuclei in mice, mirroring findings in other species. This research provides a foundation for future studies on vestibular compensation mechanisms using gene-deficient mice.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Vestibular System Research
Background:
- Vestibular compensation involves neural reorganization but its mechanism remains unclear.
- c-Fos protein is a reliable marker for neuronal activation.
- Previous studies on c-Fos expression after labyrinthectomy were not conducted in mice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate c-Fos expression in the mouse brainstem following unilateral labyrinthectomy.
- To establish a baseline for future studies using gene-deficient mice.
- To elucidate the mechanism of vestibular compensation.
Main Methods:
- Unilateral labyrinthectomy was performed on mice.
- c-Fos protein expression was analyzed 24 hours post-surgery.
Main Results:
- Increased c-Fos positive cells were observed in specific brain nuclei.
- Activation was noted in bilateral medial vestibular nucleus (MVe) and spinal vestibular nucleus (SpVe).
- Contralateral activation occurred in the prepositus hypoglossal nucleus (PrH) and inferior olive nucleus (IO).
Conclusions:
- Unilateral labyrinthectomy activates vestibular, prepositus hypoglossal, and inferior olive nuclei in mice.
- These findings align with observations in other species.
- This procedure is suitable for future studies on vestibular compensation mechanisms in gene-deficient mice.
