An in vitro brain slice preparation to study the pharmacology of central vestibular neurons.

The purpose for development of this preparation was to allow detailed studies of the pharmacological and electrophysiological properties of individual central vestibular neurons. The pharmacology of the central afferent synapses of the vestibular system has not been examined at the level of the neuronal membrane, and as a result few definitive reports are available. The best studies have used in situ extracellular recording techniques that are difficult to interpret. For instance, recent literature still supports the concept that excitatory transmission at the N. VIII to vestibular nuclei synapse is cholinergic. Our data refute this hypothesis and suggest that an excitatory amino acid is the most likely candidate for the eighth nerve to medial vestibular nucleus in the rat. We believe this preparation combined with an intracellular electrophysiological approach will shed information of value to both the basic scientist and the clinician with interest in the vestibular system.