Semicircular canal occlusion causes permanent VOR changes

We measured the guinea pig horizontal vestibule-ocular reflex (hVOR) to hig h acceleration impulsive head rotations following a unilateral lateral semi circular canal (LSCC) occlusion. We found a significant hVOR deficit for ro tations toward the side of the occluded LSCC and this deficit did not show systematic changes over 3 months. We considered the LSCC nerve was still fu nctional as shown by the normal appearance of the crista of the LSCC ampull a and also electrical stimulation of the LSCC. We conclude that the VOR dur ing angular acceleration in response to high acceleration shows no adaptive plasticity following a unilateral LSCC occlusion. NeuroReport 11:2527-2531 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.