Effect of nitric oxide in vestibular compensation / 中国医学科学院学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of nitric oxide (NO) in vestibular compensation after unilateral vestibular deafferentation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighteen animals were divided into two groups, 6 of group a as control, 12 of group b received gentamicin intratympanic injection in the left ear. Half of the animals were killed respectively after 5 days and 10 days. Vestibular endorgan and brainstem tissue sections were subjected to NADPH-d reactive test of NOS for histochemical examination.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In group a, NOS-like reactivity in both sides of vestibular endorgan and nucli. In group b during 5 days, NOS-like reactivity in right side of vestibular endorgan and nucli, those of the left side were negative. During 10 days, NOS-like reactivity only in the right side of vestibular endorgan.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Changes of NOS expression in the contralateral vestibular nucli might have played a role in vestibular compensation.</p>