Pharmacological tests of hypotheses for acquired pendular nystagmus

Aasef G Shaikh; Matthew J Thurtell; Lance M Optican; R John Leigh

doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06118.x

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Pharmacological tests of hypotheses for acquired pendular nystagmus

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Pharmacological tests of hypotheses for acquired pendular nystagmus

Aasef G Shaikh, Matthew J Thurtell, Lance M Optican and R John Leigh

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Vol.1233(1), pp.320-326

09/2011

DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06118.x

PMCID: PMC3187918

PMID: 21951011

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/3187918View

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Abstract

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.

Baclofen - pharmacology

Cerebellar Cortex - physiopathology

Memantine - pharmacology

Humans

gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - pharmacology

Eye Movements - drug effects

Nystagmus, Pathologic - physiopathology

Myoclonus - physiopathology

Multiple Sclerosis - complications

Multiple Sclerosis - physiopathology

Myoclonus - complications

Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids - pharmacology

Nystagmus, Pathologic - etiology

Olivary Nucleus - physiopathology

Models, Neurological

Amines - pharmacology

Nystagmus, Pathologic - drug therapy

Details

Title: Subtitle: Pharmacological tests of hypotheses for acquired pendular nystagmus
Creators: Aasef G Shaikh - Neurology Service, Veterans Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Matthew J Thurtell
Lance M Optican
R John Leigh
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Vol.1233(1), pp.320-326
DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06118.x
PMID: 21951011
PMCID: PMC3187918
NLM abbreviation: Ann N Y Acad Sci
ISSN: 0077-8923
eISSN: 1749-6632
Publisher: United States
Grant note: ZIA EY000302-16 / Intramural NIH HHS R01 EY006717 / NEI NIH HHS EY06717 / NEI NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 09/2011
Academic Unit: Neurology; Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Record Identifier: 9983979990902771

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