A study discovers the neurons that cause dizziness and how to block them

A study led by the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) has identified the neurons that cause dizziness, located in a point in the brain that transmits the signals that cause this discomfort, and has proposed a possible drug with fewer side effects to avoid the unpleasant sensation. sensation.

As explained by the university in a statement, the study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was carried out in mice and was led by the UAB Neuroscience Institute together with researchers from the University of Washington.

The group of researchers has analyzed the cells of the so-called “vestibular nuclei” in the brains of mice subjected to short, repetitive turns, demonstrating the importance of neurons that express the VGLUT2 protein in motion sickness.

The authors say that these neurons are necessary for the effects of motion-sickness induced by rotation, such as decreased appetite, lower body temperature, reduced movement and lack of taste.

Specifically, they have identified a subgroup of VGLUT2 neurons that express a specific gene, cholecystokinin, as responsible for the effects of dizziness, and they have seen that they send signals to an area of ​​the brain called the parabrachial nucleus, responsible for generating unpleasant sensations.

“The mice to which we administered a drug that blocks the cholecystokinin receptor show less activation of the parabrachial nucleus and have fewer symptoms of dizziness,” detailed one of the authors of the study, Elisenda Sanz.

“Common solutions against motion sickness cause drowsiness. Instead, the drugs Cholecystokinin receptor blockers, which are already approved by the North American and European Medicines Associations as a treatment for gastric problems, are safe and do not have this unwanted effect.”added the research coordinator, Albert Quintana.

In future studies, researchers want to define the contribution of these neurons to other situations that also cause dizziness, to advance the approval of medications that block cholecystokinin receptors as new therapies against this discomfort.