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Circling behavior in the Ecl mouse is caused by lateral semicircular canal defects
Author(s) -
Cryns Kim,
Van Alphen Arjan M.,
Van Spaendonck Michiel P.,
Van De Heyning Paul H.,
Timmermans JeanPierre,
De Zeeuw Chris I.,
Van Camp Guy
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/cne.10975
Subject(s) - biology , vestibular system , semicircular canal , brainstem , anatomy , inner ear , auditory brainstem response , phenotype , reflex , vestibulo–ocular reflex , neuroscience , vestibular nuclei , audiology , hearing loss , genetics , medicine , gene
The epistatic circler mouse ( Ecl mouse) is a preexisting mutant, which displays a circling phenotype and hyperactivity. It has been shown that the circling phenotype in this mutant results from a complex inheritance pattern, but the vestibular pathology has not been analyzed. The present study deals with the morphological and functional basis responsible for the circling behavior in the Ecl mouse. Morphological examination of the inner ears revealed a bilateral malformation of the horizontal (lateral) semicircular canal and duct. No cochlear abnormalities were detected, and auditory brainstem response (ABR) measurements indicated that the auditory system is not affected. Investigation of the vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) in Ecl mice showed that their horizontal VOR on stimulation is virtually absent, which correlates with the morphological findings. J. Comp. Neurol. 468:587–595, 2004. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.