Vestibular compensation is the spontaneous disappearance of postural and
oculomotor imbalance exhibited by the vestibular system in response to decreased
inputs from the labyrinths. Astrocytes in the vestibular nuclei have been reported to
have a role in the plasticity of the central nervous system. The present study was
conducted to investigate the behavioural changes of mice and the morphological
changes and distribution of astrocytes following unilateral labyrinthectomy.
Thirty-five mice (Mus musculus) underwent unilateral labyrinthectomy (UL)
and fourteen underwent sham-operation. Their behavioural changes following
surgical removal of labyrinths, or sham-operation, were observed. The UL groups
displayed behavioural changes including head tilt, circular walking, barrel-rolling and
extension and flexion of limbs. These behavioural symptoms disappeared within
approximately 3 hours. For the sham-operated animals, these symptoms were absent
