Functional recovery after extra-ocular muscle deafferentation in the rabbit

Acta Otolaryngol. 2001 Jan;121(2):229-33. doi: 10.1080/000164801300043622.

Abstract

The present research analysed on chronic animals the functional recovery of eye motility after impairment of the proprioceptive input at the level of the semilunar ganglion. The horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex (HVOR) was recorded in normal pigmented rabbits before and after a partial electrolytic lesion of the semilunar ganglion. The recordings were repeated daily for 8-10 days to evaluate the recovery. Immediately after the lesion, as previously observed, HVOR slow phases were unaffected, while quick phases (QPs) showed a reduction in peak velocity and a deviation of trajectories from the horizontal plane. QP peak velocity was almost completely restored within 3-5 days, while trajectory deviation was not corrected during the observation period. Furthermore, in some animals, the variability of trajectories showed, starting from days 3-5, a progressive increase that led to a greater spatial disorganization. A process of lesion-induced plasticity takes place. but only the velocity of QPs can be recovered rapidly, while the QP trajectory impairment does not appear to be compensated substantially, which underlines a determinant role in the control of QP spatial orientation exerted by EOM proprioceptive signals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Afferent Pathways / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology
  • Oculomotor Muscles / innervation*
  • Ophthalmic Nerve / physiology
  • Proprioception / physiology*
  • Rabbits
  • Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular / physiology*
  • Trigeminal Ganglion / physiology*