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Published on: August 28, 2019
Development of a vestibular implant for otolith stimulation: A mouse model study
Toru Miwa1, Teppei Kouga2, Taku Ito3
1Department of Otolaryngology, Teikyo University Hospital, Mizonokuchi, 5-1-1 Futago Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 213-8507, Japan; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate of School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
Objective:
Worldwide, bilateral vestibulopathy (BVH) affects ≈1.8 million adults. Its symptoms include oscillopsia, postural instability, and gait disturbances, which significantly impair the patient's quality of life. Despite advancements in vestibular rehabilitation, these approaches remain supportive and cannot restore vestibular function. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a vestibular implant targeting the utricle and saccule in a mouse model of BVH.
Methods:
A total of 30 CBA/J mice underwent bilateral vestibular destruction, followed by implantation of a vestibular implant in the left ear. Of these, we selected 14 mice for analysis and divided them into three groups: no stimulation (vestibular destruction + implantation), 0.5V stimulation, and 1.0V stimulation groups. No intervention group was used as a control. Eye movement and behavioral analyses, including otolith-ocular reflex (OOR), vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), and gait assessments, were performed after 2 post-intervention weeks.
Results:
Artificial vestibular stimulation significantly improved OOR responses, with 1.0V stimulation restoring vertical eye rotation angles to levels comparable to those in controls (p < 0.001). However, VOR gain remained impaired across all groups. Behavioral analysis revealed significantly reduced trunk deviation with 1.0V stimulation, with scores similar to those in the control group (p < 0.001). There was partial recovery of gait parameters, with stimulated groups showing a narrower base of support (p < 0.05); however, there was no significant improvement in stride length and speed.
Conclusion:
Our findings indicated that targeted stimulation of the utricle and saccule via a vestibular implant can partially restore otolithic function, reduce trunk deviation, and improve gait stability in a mouse model of BVH. Despite the promising efficacy of chronic stimulation for functional recovery, it is important to further refine the stimulation parameters and electrode design, as well as determine the systemic effects. Our findings may inform the development of head-mounted vestibular prostheses for clinical application in patients with bilateral vestibular dysfunction.
