Pharmacological tests of hypotheses for acquired pendular nystagmus

Acquired pendular nystagmus (APN) occurs with multiple sclerosis (MS) and oculopalatal tremor (OPT); distinct features of the nystagmus have led to the development of separate models for their pathogenesis. APN in MS has been attributed to instability in the neural integrator, which normally ensures...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 2011-09, Vol.1233 (1), p.320-326
Main Authors: Shaikh, Aasef G., Thurtell, Matthew J., Optican, Lance M., Leigh, R. John
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amines - pharmacology
Baclofen - pharmacology
Cerebellar Cortex - physiopathology
cerebellum
Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids - pharmacology
Drugs
Eye Movements - drug effects
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - pharmacology
Guillain-Mollaret triangle
Humans
Hypotheses
Indexing in process
inferior olive
Instability
learning
Memantine - pharmacology
Models, Neurological
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis - complications
Multiple Sclerosis - physiopathology
Myoclonus - complications
Myoclonus - physiopathology
Nuclei
Nystagmus
Nystagmus, Pathologic - drug therapy
Nystagmus, Pathologic - etiology
Nystagmus, Pathologic - physiopathology
Olivary Nucleus - physiopathology
Oscillations
Patients
plasticity
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Summary:Acquired pendular nystagmus (APN) occurs with multiple sclerosis (MS) and oculopalatal tremor (OPT); distinct features of the nystagmus have led to the development of separate models for their pathogenesis. APN in MS has been attributed to instability in the neural integrator, which normally ensures steady gaze. APN in OPT may result from electrotonic coupling between neurons in the hypertrophied inferior olivary nucleus, which induces maladaptive learning in cerebellar cortex. We tested these two hypotheses by analyzing the effects of gabapentin, memantine, and baclofen on both forms of nystagmus. No drug changed the dominant frequency of either form of APN, but the variability of frequency was affected with gabapentin and memantine in patients with OPT. The amplitude of APN in both MS and OPT was reduced with gabapentin and memantine, but not baclofen. Analyzing the effects of drug therapies on ocular oscillations provides a novel approach to test models of nystagmus.
ISSN:0077-8923
1749-6632
DOI:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06118.x