Neuropharmacological basis of vestibular system disorder treatment
Issue title: ARO 2012 Symposium on Vestibular Neuropharmacology, New Insights on Vestibular Neuropharmacology: From Bench to Bedside - San Diego, CA, USA, February 28, 2012
Affiliations: Instituto de Fisiología, Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, México | INSERM U1051 Montpellier and UMR 7260 CNRS Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Enrique Soto, Instituto de Fisiología, BUAP, 14 sur 6301, CU, San Manuel, Puebla, Pue., CP 72570, México. Tel.: +52 222 2295500 ext 7316; E-mail: esoto24@gmail.com
Abstract: This work reviews the neuropharmacology of the vestibular system, with an emphasis on the mechanism of action of drugs used in the treatment of vestibular disorders. Clinicians are confronted with a rapidly changing field in which advances in the knowledge of ionic channel function and synaptic transmission mechanisms have led to the development of new scientific models for the understanding of vestibular dysfunction and its management. In particular, there have been recent advances in our knowledge of the fundamental mechanisms of vestibular system function and of drug action. In this work, drugs acting on vestibular system have been grouped into two main categories according to their primary mechanisms of action: those with effects on neurotransmitters and neuromodulators dynamics and those that act on voltage-gated ion channels. Particular attention is given in this review to drugs that may provide additional insight into the pathophysiology of vestibular diseases. The critical analysis of the literature reveals that there is a significant lack of information defining the real utility of diverse drugs used in clinical practice. The development of basic studies addressing drug actions at the molecular, cellular and systems level, combined with reliable and well controlled clinical trials, would provide the scientific basis for new strategies for the treatment of vestibular disorders.
