[Reduced blood supply of the vestibular centers. Clinical and experimental studies]

To explain the origin of the narrow nystagmus writing (petite écriture) selected patients with hypoxemia were examinated using the pendular rotating test and ENG. Blood gas analysis was used to determine pO2 reduction. The decreased oxygen saturation was corresponding to the decreased amplitude of nystagmus. In a second experiment with alert rabbits the inspired gas mixture was altered to obtain hypoxia (8% O2+ 92% N2, controlled with blood gas analysis). A significant reduction from the normal nystagmus reaction was observed. This reduction in the amplitude (about 50%) is immediately reversible by giving oxygen. These experiments were repeated with each animal several times, the results being reproductible. There is a significant decrease in amplitude of nystagmus through the influence of hypoxia.