Model experiments on BPPV mechanism and estrogen receptor distribution within the vestibular organ.

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Estrogen receptors (ER) in the vestibular organ were investigated by immunochemical method. ER was distributed more in the female and it markedly decreased in the elderly animals. Dislodge of the otoconia due to mechanical stimulus was more pronounced in the elderly and menopausal animals, suggesting otoconial metabolic disorder contributes to emergence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Stability of the otoconia placed on the utricular macula was studied using the frog model. The otoconial stability depends on condition of the utricular macula, but it became stabilized in 5 min., suggesting that the physical therapy is still useful even if the utricular macula is disturbed.