Ondansetron reduces lasting vestibular deficits in a model of severe peripheral excitotoxic injury

Issue title: ARO 2012 Symposium on Vestibular Neuropharmacology, New Insights on Vestibular Neuropharmacology: From Bench to Bedside - San Diego, CA, USA, February 28, 2012

Guest editors: Christian Chabbert

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Dyhrfjeld-Johnsen, Jonas^{a; *} | Gaboyard-Niay, Sophie^a | Broussy, Audrey^a | Saleur, Aurélie^a | Brugeaud, Aurore^a | Chabbert, Christian^{a; b}

Affiliations: [a] Sensorion, Montpellier, France | [b] INSERM U1051, Institute for Neurosciences Montpellier, Montpellier, France | INSERM U1051 Montpellier and UMR 7260 CNRS Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Dr. Jonas Dyhrfjeld-Johnsen, Sensorion, Le bruyère 2000, Bâtiment 2, 650 rue Henri becquerel, 34000 Montpellier, France. E-mail: jonas.dyhrfjeld-johnsen@sensorion-pharma.com

Abstract: Vestibular neuritis is a neuroinflammatory, peripheral vestibular pathology leading to chronic deficits and long-term disability. While current corticosteroid-based therapy does not appear to positively influence the long term outcome for the patient, a recent clinical pilot study suggested a functional vestibuloprotective effect of the anti-emetic ondansetron in the treatment of vestibular neuritis. We here demonstrate that systemic post-insult administration of ondansetron in a novel rat model of severe excitotoxic vestibular insult reproduces the clinically demonstrated functional benefits. This ondansetron-conferred reduction of functional deficits stems from the protection of synapses between sensory hair cells and primary neurons from excitotoxically induced lesion.

Keywords: Vestibule, excitoxicity, neuritis, ondansetron, vertigo, functional deficit, nystagmus

DOI: 10.3233/VES-130483

Journal: Journal of Vestibular Research, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 177-186, 2013