Vestibular Function Change in a Vasopressin-Induced Hydrops Model.

Hypothesis: A vasopressin-induced endoymphatic hydrops model can represent an acute vertiginous attack in Meniere's disease (MD). Background: Previous animal models are not appropriate to evaluate the efficacy of new treatments for hydrops because they cannot represent an acute attack of MD. Recently, a new dynamic model was introduced for acute hydrops exacerbation using the vasopressin type 2 receptor agonist, desmopressin (1-deamino-8-D-Arginine vasopressin, VP); however, resulting changes in vestibular function have not been investigated. Methods: A total of 37 guinea pigs were used. Two to 4 weeks after surgical ablation of endolymphatic sacs in 33 guinea pigs, acute exacerbation of hydrops was induced by a single VP injection in 18 animals (group A). Next, two VP injections at 1 hour interval were administered to investigate the effect of multiple VP doses on vestibular function in the other 15 animals (group B). In the remaining four animals, VP was injected without surgery for the control group (control). Bidirectional sinusoidal harmonic acceleration (SHA) tests of vestibular function were performed. "Type I response" was defined as when the maximum slow-phase velocity (SPV) during left rotation (toward the operated ear) was lower than that during right rotation (toward the normal ear). In contrast, "Type II response" was defined as when maximum SPV at the left rotation was higher than that at the right rotation. Vestibular symmetry scores were analyzed at baseline and after each of two VP injections given 1 hour apart. Results: Vestibular symmetry scores increased at 1 hour after VP injection in all 18 animals in group A (p

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