Semicircular canal occlusion causes permanent VOR changes

Abstract

We measured the guinea pig horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex (hVOR) to high acceleration impulsive head rotations following a unilateral lateral semicircular canal (LSCC) occlusion. We found a significant hVOR deficit for rotations toward the side of the occluded LSCC and this deficit did not show systematic changes over 3 months. We considered the LSCC nerve was still functional as shown by the normal appearance of the crista of the LSCC ampulla and also electrical stimulation of the LSCC. We conclude that the VOR during angular acceleration in response to high acceleration shows no adaptive plasticity following a unilateral LSCC occlusion.