The proposed neuroanatomical and electrophysiological studies continue investigations of the organization of pathways that mediate vestibular influences on autonomic and limbic pathways, particularly in pathways that mediate the linkage between balance disorders and anxiety disorders. Three circuitry networks appear to be critical for balance-anxiety link: a vestibulo-parabrachial nucleus (PBN) network, coeruleo-vestibular (noraderenergic) network and raphe-vestibular (serotonergic and non-serotonergic) networks. The physiology and connections of the PBN network will be studied in primates; the organization of the noradrenergic and raphe pathways will be explored in rats. Our on-going primate studies have shown that a caudal region of PBN contains neurons that receive vestibular nuclear input and are sensitive to whole body rotation. New electrophysiologic studies in alert primates are directed at elucidating the spatial organization of responses of parabrachial nucleus neurons during whole body rotation. Two main foci will be characterization of otolith-related responses and a test of the hypothesis that responses will differ for predictable and unpredictable whole body rotation in three dimensions. Anatomical studies in primates are also designed elucidate the afferent and efferent connections of this vestibulo-recipient region of PBN. Our on-going studies have shown that the dorsal raphe nucleus, nucleus raphe obscurus and nucleus raphe pallidus provide serotonergic input to the vestibular nuclei. Anatomical studies will elucidate the topography of these projections, the distribution of immunoreactive serotonin receptors in the vestibular nuclei and test specific hypotheses regarding the organization of collateralized raphe projections to the vestibular nuclei and other sites. Finally, anatomical studies in rats will test specific hypotheses regarding the organization of collateralized noradrenergic projections to the vestibular nuclei and other sites.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01DC000739-13A1
Application #
6687424
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-IFCN-5 (01))
Program Officer
Platt, Christopher
Project Start
1990-03-01
Project End
2008-05-31
Budget Start
2003-08-01
Budget End
2004-05-31
Support Year
13
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$319,913
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Otolaryngology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
004514360
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Balaban, Carey D; Hoffer, Michael E; Gottshall, Kim R (2012) Top-down approach to vestibular compensation: translational lessons from vestibular rehabilitation. Brain Res 1482:101-11
Balaban, Carey D (2011) Migraine, vertigo and migrainous vertigo: Links between vestibular and pain mechanisms. J Vestib Res 21:315-21
Furman, Joseph M; Marcus, Dawn A; Balaban, Carey D (2011) Rizatriptan reduces vestibular-induced motion sickness in migraineurs. J Headache Pain 12:81-8
Balaban, Carey D; Jacob, Rolf G; Furman, Joseph M (2011) Neurologic bases for comorbidity of balance disorders, anxiety disorders and migraine: neurotherapeutic implications. Expert Rev Neurother 11:379-94
Ahn, Seong-Ki; Balaban, Carey D (2010) Distribution of 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptors in the inner ear. Brain Res 1346:92-101
McCandless, Cyrus H; Balaban, Carey D (2010) Parabrachial nucleus neuronal responses to off-vertical axis rotation in macaques. Exp Brain Res 202:271-90
Halberstadt, Adam L; Balaban, Carey D (2008) Selective anterograde tracing of nonserotonergic projections from dorsal raphe nucleus to the basal forebrain and extended amygdala. J Chem Neuroanat 35:317-25
Halberstadt, A L; Balaban, C D (2007) Selective anterograde tracing of the individual serotonergic and nonserotonergic components of the dorsal raphe nucleus projection to the vestibular nuclei. Neuroscience 147:207-23
Halberstadt, A L; Balaban, C D (2006) Anterograde tracing of projections from the dorsal raphe nucleus to the vestibular nuclei. Neuroscience 143:641-54
Halberstadt, A L; Balaban, C D (2006) Serotonergic and nonserotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus send collateralized projections to both the vestibular nuclei and the central amygdaloid nucleus. Neuroscience 140:1067-77

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