The epistatic circler mouse (Ecl mouse) is a preexisting mutant, which displays a circling phenotype and hyperactivity. It has been shown that the circling phenotype in this mutant results from a complex inheritance pattern, but the vestibular pathology has not been analyzed. The present study deals with the morphological and functional basis responsible for the circling behavior in the Ecl mouse. Morphological examination of the inner ears revealed a bilateral malformation of the horizontal (lateral) semicircular canal and duct. No cochlear abnormalities were detected, and auditory brainstem response (ABR) measurements indicated that the auditory system is not affected. Investigation of the vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) in Ecl mice showed that their horizontal VOR on stimulation is virtually absent, which correlates with the morphological findings.

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doi.org/10.1002/cne.10975, hdl.handle.net/1765/72864
The Journal of Comparative Neurology
Department of Neuroscience

Cryns, K., van Alphen, A., van Spaendonck, M., van de Heyning, P., Timmermans, J. P., de Zeeuw, C., & van Camp, G. (2004). Circling Behavior in the Ecl Mouse Is Caused by Lateral Semicircular Canal Defects. The Journal of Comparative Neurology, 468(4), 587–595. doi:10.1002/cne.10975