Effects of unilateral warm and cold water irrigation in the outer ear of rabbits on isolated nerve cells from the lateral vestibular nucleus and cerebellum.

Two groups of rabbits were subjected to repeated cold (20°C) and warm (48°C) water irrigation, respectively, in the left outer ear for 30 minutes daily for seven days. During the irrigation the animals were lightly anesthetized. 24 hours after the last irrigation the animals were sacrificed. Bilateral samples of isolated Deiters' giant nerve cells from the lateral vestibular nuclei were analyzed on total amount of RNA and succinoxidase activity. Bilateral samples of Purkinje cells from lobulus III from the hemisphere were analyzed on total amount of RNA.After warm water irrigation there is an increase on the irrigated side of the succinoxidase activity in the Deiters' cells while the RNA content of these cells does not show any significant changes. However, the amount of RNA of the Purkinje cells is increased on the irrigated side as compared to that of the cells from the contralateral side. The side difference for Purkinje cells occurs even after one single irrigation. After cold water irrigation the Dei...