Superior Versus Inferior Vestibular Neuritis: Are There Intrinsic Differences in Infection, Reactivation, or Production of Infectious Particles Between the Vestibular Ganglia?
Publication/Presentation Date
8-1-2015
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS: Intrinsic differences in neurons of the vestibular ganglia result in the increased likelihood of superior vestibular ganglion involvement in vestibular neuritis.
BACKGROUND: Vestibular neuritis is hypothesized to result from herpes simplex type I (HSV1) infection or reactivation in vestibular ganglia. Involvement of the inferior vestibular ganglion is extremely rare in patients with vestibular neuritis.
METHODS: Primary cultures of rat superior and inferior vestibular ganglion neurons (VGNs) were cultivated separately. Neurons were lytically and latently infected with HSV1 with a US11-green fluorescent protein (GFP) chimera. Percentage lytic infection and baseline reactivation was assessed by microscopy for GFP fluorescence. Trichostatin-A (TSA) was used to stimulate HSV1 reactivation. Virion production was assessed by viral titers. Relative numbers of latency-associated (LAT) transcripts were determined by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR).
RESULTS: Lytic infection rates were equivalent between the two ganglia (p > 0.05). Lytic infections yielded similar amounts of plaque-forming units (p > 0.05). Relative amounts of LAT transcripts did not differ between latently infected superior and inferior VGNs. Latently infected cultures showed no differences in rates of baseline and TSA-induced HSV1 reactivation (p > 0.05). Production of virions was not significantly different between reactivated, latently infected superior versus inferior VGNs (p = 0.45).
CONCLUSION: Differences in prevalence of superior and inferior vestibular neuritis do not result from intrinsic differences in HSV1 infection or virion production of these neurons. Other factors, such as the length and width of the bony canal containing the ganglia and nerves, account for the greater involvement of the superior vestibular ganglion in vestibular neuritis.
Volume
36
Issue
7
First Page
1266
Last Page
1274
ISSN
1537-4505
Published In/Presented At
Nayak, S., He, L., & Roehm, P. C. (2015). Superior Versus Inferior Vestibular Neuritis: Are There Intrinsic Differences in Infection, Reactivation, or Production of Infectious Particles Between the Vestibular Ganglia?. Otology & neurotology : official publication of the American Otological Society, American Neurotology Society [and] European Academy of Otology and Neurotology, 36(7), 1266–1274. https://doi.org/10.1097/MAO.0000000000000758
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
25978655
Department(s)
Department of Surgery
Document Type
Article