In vivo recording of the vestibular microphonic in mammals

BACKGROUND

The Vestibular Microphonic (VM) has only featured in a handful of publications, mostly involving non-mammalian and ex vivo models. The VM is the extracellular analogue of the vestibular hair cell receptor current, and offers a tool to monitor vestibular hair cell activity in vivo.

OBJECTIVE

To characterise features of the VM measured in vivo in guinea pigs, using a relatively simple experimental setup.

METHODS

The VM, evoked by bone-conducted vibration (BCV), was recorded from the basal surface of either the utricular or saccular macula after surgical removal of the cochlea, in 27 guinea pigs.

RESULTS

The VM remained after vestibular nerve blockade, but was abolished following end-organ destruction or death. The VM reversed polarity as the recording electrode tracked across the utricular or saccular macula surface, or through the utricular macula. The VM could be evoked by BCV stimuli of frequencies between 100 Hz and 5 kHz, and was largest to vibrations between 600 Hz and 800 Hz. Experimental manipulations demonstrated a reduction in the VM amplitude with maculae displacement, or rupture of the utricular membrane.

CONCLUSIONS

Results mirror those obtained in previous ex vivo studies, and further demonstrate that vestibular hair cells are sensitive to vibrations of several kilohertz. Changes in the VM with maculae displacement or rupture suggest utricular hydrops may alter vestibular hair cell sensitivity due to either mechanical or ionic changes.

Sensitivity of the cochlear nerve to acoustic and electrical stimulation months after a vestibular labyrinthectomy in guinea pigs

Single-sided deafness patients are now being considered candidates to receive a cochlear implant. With this, many people who have undergone a unilateral vestibular labyrinthectomy for the treatment of chronic vertigo are now being considered for cochlear implantation. There is still some concern regarding the potential efficacy of cochlear implants in these patients, where factors such as cochlear fibrosis or nerve degeneration following unilateral vestibular labyrinthectomy may preclude their use. Here, we have performed a unilateral vestibular labyrinthectomy in normally hearing guinea pigs, and allowed them to recover for either 6 weeks, or 10 months, before assessing morphological and functional changes related to cochlear implantation. Light sheet fluorescence microscopy was used to assess gross morphology throughout the entire ear. Whole nerve responses to acoustic, vibrational, or electrical stimuli were used as functional measures. Mild cellular infiltration was observed at 6 weeks, and to a lesser extent at 10 months after labyrinthectomy. Following labyrinthectomy, cochlear sensitivity to high-frequency acoustic tone-bursts was reduced by 16 ± 4 dB, vestibular sensitivity was almost entirely abolished, and electrical sensitivity was only mildly reduced. These results support recent clinical findings that patients who have received a vestibular labyrinthectomy may still benefit from a cochlear implant.