Zebrafish as a Model for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Abstract

Dislodgment or degradation of calcium carbonate bio‐crystals within the inner ear, called otoconia, can result in an acute sensation of vertigo. The most common form of this vestibular disorder among adults and the elderly is known as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). BPPV is characterized by the dissociation of otoconial particles from the utricle which relocate either to the semicircular canals (canalithiasis) or the cupulae (cupulolithiasis). Feelings of vertigo that lead to loss of balance leaves affected individuals susceptible to falls, which is the leading cause of accidental death in the elderly. Although the exact mechanisms of BPPV are still unknown, elevated plasma levels of a key otoconial protein, Otolin‐1 (Otol1), have been proposed to be an early clinical marker for BPPV susceptibility. This study aimed to determine if zebrafish could be used as a model to predict BPPV incidence in humans by examining Otol1 levels in the blood plasma of zebrafish deficient in the gene tecta that are susceptible to vertigo. Western blot analysis of age‐matched males showed increased plasma levels of Otol1a in tecta‐null adults compared to wild‐type clutchmates. Beta‐actin was used as a sex‐independent marker of serum protein expression. Immunofluorescence was used to characterize otolith degradation in tecta‐null adults. Altogether, this data suggests a close link between BPPV susceptibility and otolith degradation in both humans and zebrafish. Moreover, this zebrafish model will allow further probing into the etiology of BPPV.Support or Funding InformationWe are grateful for funding through grants from NIH/NIGMS Neurosensory COBRE Grant.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.