Experimental study of nystagmus induced by injecting various solutions into the middle ear cavity

Injecting of various solutions into the middle ear cavity of cats and rabbits provoked certain characteristic types of nystagmus which resembled caloric nystagmus or clinical cases of peripheral vestibular disorders. Solutions with different degrees of specific gravity, osmotic effect and ion composition were used in this study. Direction-changing positional nystagmus, irritative nystagmus, and paralytic nystagmus were elicited according to the physical or chemical properties of each solution. Histological findings showed mild changes in the perilymphatic space and/or in the endolymphatic space in the period with some characteristic types of nystagmus. Infiltration of the substances into the inner ear fluids from the middle ear cavity via a round window membrane were probably responsible for these types of nystagmus.