Changes in protein expression in the vestibular nuclei during vestibular compensation

IN the guinea pig, labyrinthectomy induces an immediate depression of the r esting discharges in the neurons of the ipsilateral vestibular nuclei. Late r on, in spite of the persistent deprivation of their ipsilateral labyrinth ine input, a-spontaneous restoration of activity, which is complete within 1 week, occurs in these neurons. Here, by using computer-assisted quantitat ive two-dimensional gel analysis, we have detected three proteins whose exp ressions were increased in the ipsilateral vestibular nuclei 1 week after u nilateral labyrinthectomy. The spatio-temporal pattern of this phenomenon w as compatible with a role for it in the restoration of activity in the vest ibular neurons deprived of their ipsilateral labyrinthine input. Furthermor e, the N-terminal amino acid sequences of-two of these expressed proteins w ere obtained. NeuroReport 10:3333-3339 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilki ns.