Asymmetries of vertical vestibular nystagmus in the cat

Downbeat nystagmus: a clinical and pathophysiological review

Downbeat nystagmus (DBN) is a neuro-otological finding frequently encountered by clinicians dealing with patients with vertigo. Since DBN is a finding that should be understood because of central vestibular dysfunction, it is necessary to know how to frame it promptly to suggest the correct diagnostic-therapeutic pathway to the patient. As knowledge of its pathophysiology has progressed, the importance of this clinical sign has been increasingly understood. At the same time, clinical diagnostic knowledge has increased, and it has been recognized that this sign may occur sporadically or in association with others within defined clinical syndromes. Thus, in many cases, different therapeutic solutions have become possible. In our work, we have attempted to systematize current knowledge about the origin of this finding, the clinical presentation and current treatment options, to provide an overview that can be used at different levels, from the general practitioner to the specialist neurologist or neurotologist.

Gaze-Stabilizing Central Vestibular Neurons Project Asymmetrically to Extraocular Motoneuron Pools

Within reflex circuits, specific anatomical projections allow central neurons to relay sensations to effectors that generate movements. A major challenge is to relate anatomical features of central neural populations, such as asymmetric connectivity, to the computations the populations perform. To address this problem, we mapped the anatomy, modeled the function, and discovered a new behavioral role for a genetically defined population of central vestibular neurons in rhombomeres 5–7 of larval zebrafish. First, we found that neurons within this central population project preferentially to motoneurons that move the eyes downward. Concordantly, when the entire population of asymmetrically projecting neurons was stimulated collectively, only downward eye rotations were observed, demonstrating a functional correlate of the anatomical bias. When these neurons are ablated, fish failed to rotate their eyes following either nose-up or nose-down body tilts. This asymmetrically projecting central population thus participates in both upward and downward gaze stabilization. In addition to projecting to motoneurons, central vestibular neurons also receive direct sensory input from peripheral afferents. To infer whether asymmetric projections can facilitate sensory encoding or motor output, we modeled differentially projecting sets of central vestibular neurons. Whereas motor command strength was independent of projection allocation, asymmetric projections enabled more accurate representation of nose-up stimuli. The model shows how asymmetric connectivity could enhance the representation of imbalance during nose-up postures while preserving gaze stabilization performance. Finally, we found that central vestibular neurons were necessary for a vital behavior requiring maintenance of a nose-up posture: swim bladder inflation. These observations suggest that asymmetric connectivity in the vestibular system facilitates representation of ethologically relevant stimuli without compromising reflexive behavior.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Interneuron populations use specific anatomical projections to transform sensations into reflexive actions. Here we examined how the anatomical composition of a genetically defined population of balance interneurons in the larval zebrafish relates to the computations it performs. First, we found that the population of interneurons that stabilize gaze preferentially project to motoneurons that move the eyes downward. Next, we discovered through modeling that such projection patterns can enhance the encoding of nose-up sensations without compromising gaze stabilization. Finally, we found that loss of these interneurons impairs a vital behavior, swim bladder inflation, that relies on maintaining a nose-up posture. These observations suggest that anatomical specialization permits neural circuits to represent relevant features of the environment without compromising behavior.

Nystagmus as a sign of labyrinthine disorders--three-dimensional analysis of nystagmus

In order to diagnose the pathological condition of vertiginous patients, a detailed observation of nystagmus in addition to examination of body equilibrium and other neurotological tests are essential. How to precisely record the eye movements is one of the goals of the researchers and clinicians who are interested in the analysis of eye movements for a long time. For considering that, one has to think about the optimal method for recording eye movements. In this review, the author introduced a new method, that is, an analysis of vestibular induced eye movements in three-dimensions and discussed the advantages and limitations of this method.

Otolith orientation and downbeat nystagmus in the normal cat

Upward drift of the eyes in darkness, influenced by whole body orientation, was studied in 12 cats using electromagnetic search coil and electro-oculographic techniques. Animals were positioned stationary with respect to gravity with 0 degree tilt ("upright") or rolled 90 degrees ("on side"), pitched 90 degrees ("on nose" or "on tail"), or inverted 180 degrees ("upside down"). A downbeat quick-phase nystagmus (slow-phase upward in the cat's orbit) was measured, varying in magnitude with angle of tilt (0.21 degree/s at 0 degree tilt; 4.14 degrees/s at 180 degrees tilt). The drift was not present in the light. Upward eye velocities over a range of body orientations in darkness suggest a systematic drive to the eyes which increases with tilt away from upright. The relationship of this behavior to previous models of angular velocity estimation by an otolith-driven central mechanism is discussed.

Changes in the dynamics of the vertical vestibulo-ocular reflex due to linear acceleration in the frontal plane of the cat

The vertical and horizontal components of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) were recorded in alert, restrained cats who were placed on their sides and subjected to whole-body rotations in the horizontal plane. The head was either on the axis or 45 cm eccentric from the axis rotation. During off-axis rotation there was a change in the linear force acting on the otolith organs due to the presence of a centripetal acceleration along the animal's vertical axis. Otolith forces (defined to be opposite to the centripetal acceleration) directed ventrally with respect to the animal (negative) decreased both the amplitude and time constant of the first-order approximation to the slow phase eye velocity of the vertical vestibulo-ocular reflex (VVOR). Otolith forces directed dorsally (positive) increased the amplitude and time constant. The effects were greater for the up VOR. The asymmetry in the VVOR time constant also depended on the otolith forces, being less in the presence of negative otolith forces that caused the resultant otolith force to move ventrally, towards the direction along which gravity normally acts when the animal is in the upright position. The effects of otolith forces on the up VVOR were independent of whether the animals were tested in the dark or in the light with a stationary visual surround (i.e., during visual suppression). In contrast, the changes in the time constant of the down VVOR were smaller during visual suppression. Simulations of the eye velocity storage mechanism suggest that the gain of the feedback in the storage integrator was modified by the angle between the resultant otolith force and an animal-fixed reference. This could be the animal's vertical, i.e., the direction along which gravity normally acts. For larger angles the feedback was less and the amplitude and time constant of the VVOR increased. The transformation of the otolith input was the same for both the up and down VOR, even though the final effect on the eye velocity was asymmetric (larger for up VOR) due to a separate, asymmetric gain element in the velocity storage feedback pathway.

Static roll and the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR)

We measured the effect of static lateral tilt (roll) on the gain and time constant of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) in five normal subjects by recording both the horizontal and vertical components of eye velocity in space for rotation about an earth vertical axis with the head either upright or rolled to either side. The time constant of the VOR in the upright position was 19.6 +/- 3.2s (mean +/- standard deviation). The time constant of the horizontal component with respect to the head decreased to 15.7 +/- 4.0s for 30 degrees roll and to 12.7 +/- 2.7s for 60 degrees roll. The time constant of the vertical component with respect to the head was 11.0 +/- 1.4s for 30 degrees roll and 7.5 +/- 1.6s for 60 degrees roll. The gain of the horizontal VOR with respect to space did not vary significantly with roll angle but a small space-vertical component to the VOR appeared during all rotations when the head was rolled away from upright. This non-compensatory nystagmus built up to a maximum of 2-3 degrees/s at 17.0 +/- 4.7s after the onset of rotation and then decayed. These data suggest that static otolith input modulates the central storage of semicircular canal signals, and that head-horizontal and head-vertical components of the VOR can decay at different rates.

Compensation of vertical vestibulo-ocular functions in squirrel monkeys after unilateral labyrinthectomy

Modifications in the vertical vestibulo-ocular reflex (VVOR) were studied in four squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) over time after unilateral labyrinthectomy. In the dark, with head upright, animals were exposed to sinusoidal rotation in the pitch plane. The magnetic field-pericorneal search coli technique was used to detect eye movement. The upward and downward slow-phase eye velocity (SPEV) of the VVOR and the maximum SPEV of the vertical component of spontaneous nystagmus (SPN) were studied. The mean preoperative gain of VVOR was symmetric. After unilateral labyrinthectomy, the maximum reduction of VVOR gain showed an asymmetry. The recovery of VVOR gain to the preoperative level took about 2 weeks, and the vertical component of SPN was present for about 3 weeks.

Influence of gravity on cat vertical vestibulo-ocular reflex

The vertical vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) was recorded in cats using electro-oculography during sinusoidal angular pitch. Peak stimulus velocity was 50%/s over a frequency range from 0.01 to 4.0 Hz. To test the effect of gravity on the vertical VOR, the animal was pitched while sitting upright or lying on its side. Upright pitch changed the cat's orientation relative to gravity, while on-side pitch did not. The cumulative slow component position of the eye during on-side pitch was less symmetric than during upright pitch. Over the mid-frequency range (0.1 to 1.0 Hz), the average gain of the vertical VOR was 14.5% higher during upright pitch than during on-side pitch. At low frequencies (less than 0.05 Hz) changing head position relative to gravity raised the vertical VOR gain and kept the reflex in phase with stimulus velocity. These results indicate that gravity-sensitive mechanisms make the vertical VOR more compensatory.

Nystagmus induced by off-vertical rotation axis in the cat

1) In the alert cat, nystagmus induced by off-vertical axis rotation (OVAR) was recorded following steps in head velocity or ramps of velocity at constant acceleration below canal threshold. Dependence of nystagmus characteristics on tilt angle of rotation axis and head velocity was studied. Similar results were obtained with both types of stimulation. 2) Mean and modulation amplitude of horizontal eye velocity increased with tilt angle in the range 0-30 degrees. 3) Both variables increased also with head velocity, but with different trends, probably because they are set by different mechanisms. When head rotational velocity was increased above 80 degrees/s, mean eye velocity progressively decreased to zero. 4) In spite of variations from one animal to another, some regularity was observed in the phase of eye velocity modulation. In several cases, a reduction in phase lead of eye velocity with respect to conventional origin of phases (nose-down position) was observed when head velocity increased. 5) Time constant of post-OVAR nystagmus decreased with the tilt angle of the rotation axis from gravity, but not with the orientation of the head with respect to rotation axis. 6) The results could be accounted for by a general equation describing the vestibulo-ocular reflex, provided that estimates of kinematic variables of head movement (head rotational and translational velocities), and visual target distance could be computed by the Central Nervous System.

Eye movements induced by off-vertical axis rotation (OVAR) at small angles of tilt

Off-vertical rotation (OVAR) in darkness induced continuous horizontal nystagmus in humans at small tilts of the rotation axis (5 to 30 degrees). The horizontal slow eye velocity had two components: a mean velocity in the direction opposite to head rotation and a sinusoidal modulation around the mean. Mean velocity generally did not exceed 10 deg/s, and was less than or equal to the maximum velocity of optokinetic after-nystagmus (OKAN). Both the mean and modulation components of horizontal nystagmus increased with tilt angle and rotational velocity. Vertical slow eye velocity was also modulated sinusoidally, generally around zero. The amplitude of the vertical modulation increased with tilt angle, but not with rotational velocity. In addition to modulations in eye velocity, there were also modulations in horizontal and vertical eye positions. These would partially compensate for head position changes in the yaw and pitch planes during each cycle of OVAR. Modulations in vertical eye position were regular, increased with increases in tilt angle and were separated from eye velocity by 90 deg. These results are compatible with the interpretation that, during OVAR, mean slow velocity of horizontal nystagmus is produced by the velocity storage mechanism in the vestibular system. In addition, they indicate that the otolith organs induce compensatory eye position changes with regard to gravity for tilts in the pitch, yaw and probably also the roll planes. Such compensatory changes could be utilized to study the function of the otolith organs. A functional interpretation of these results is that nystagmus attempts to stabilize the image on the retina of one point of the surrounding world. Mean horizontal velocity would then be opposite to the estimate of head rotational velocity provided by the output of the velocity storage mechanism, as charged by an otolithic input during OVAR. In spite of the lack of actual translation, an estimate of head translational velocity could, in this condition, be constructed from the otolithic signal. The modulation in horizontal eye position would then be compensatory for the perceived head translation. Modulation of vertical eye velocity would compensate for actual changes in head orientation with respect to gravity.

Orientational asymmetries in small-field optokinetic nystagmus in human infants

Optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) is a pattern of reflexive eye movements which occurs when portions of the visual field are in continuous motion. Gratings moving at 7 deg/s either horizontally (left or right) or vertically (up or down) were presented on a viewing screen subtending 30 degrees by 22 degrees. Horizontal (HOKN) and vertical (VOKN) OKN were recorded under binocular viewing conditions from infants and adults. Eye movements were recorded by means of an infrared corneal reflection eye movement recorder. OKN to horizontal and vertical stimuli was different in pattern for infants. Infants' HOKN was of significantly higher frequency and lower amplitude than their VOKN. Infants below 4 months of age also showed an asymmetry within VOKN between upward and downward stimulus motion, with markedly lower gains and more variable slow phase following movements for downward moving stimuli. No differences were found in HOKN to the right and left. There was also no evidence of a build-up of slow phase velocity over time. Infants' fast phases showed peak velocity/amplitude relationships like those of adults, and like those of infant saccades recorded in a previous study of infants' fast eye movements. Across all directions of stimulus movement, infants had lower slow phase gains and OKN frequencies, and larger slow phase amplitudes than adults. The characteristics of infants' OKN are discussed in relation to those observed in other species and in adult clinical patients with eye movement disorders.

Vertical optokinetic nystagmus and vestibular nystagmus in the monkey: up-down asymmetry and effects of gravity

Vertical optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) i.e., OKN in the sagittal plane, was asymmetrical in the monkey when it was induced with animals lying on their sides in a 90 degrees roll position. In typical monkeys the slow phase velocity of downward OKN (slow phases up) increased proportionally with stimulus velocity at close to unity gain to about 60 degrees/s and saturated at about 100 degrees/s. Upward OKN (slow phases down) increased with close to unity gain only to about 40 degrees/s and saturated at about 60 degrees/s. The slow phase velocity of upward OKN was usually irregular and its frequency was lower than that of downward or horizontal OKN. Upward and downward optokinetic after-nystagmus (OKAN) were also asymmetrical. Upward OKAN was weak or absent and when present it usually saturated at 10 degrees/s. Downward OKAN was stronger, increasing with a gain of about 0.7 with regard to stimulus velocity to a saturation velocity of about 50-60 degrees/s. This was usually about 10-30 degrees/s less than the saturation velocity of horizontal OKAN. The weak or absent upward OKAN indicates that stored activity related to slow phase eye velocity contributes little to the production of upward OKN. In agreement with this, there was little or no slow rise in slow phase velocity to a steady state level during upward OKN. Instead eye velocity rose to its peak velocity at the onset of stimulation. The lack of stored velocity information is probably largely responsible for the differences in regularity, gain and frequency between upward and downward OKN. Vertical vestibular nystagmus was induced by rotating monkeys in darkness with steps of velocity about a vertical axis, while they were lying on their sides in a 90 degree roll position. The velocities of the initial upward and downward slow phases were approximately equal. Gains of the vertical VOR ranged from about 0.5 to 0.98 for stimuli up to 150 degrees/s. Despite equivalent initial gains for upward and downward nystagmus, the vertical VOR was asymmetrical in that downward nystagmus had a higher frequency and generally lasted longer than upward nystagmus. Time constants of downward nystagmus (slow phases up) were about 15 s on average and were similar to those of horizontal nystagmus. Mean time constants of upward nystagmus (slow phases down) were about 8 s. This is only slightly longer than the average time constant of afferent activity in the semicircular canal nerves induced by steps of velocity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)