This study reports the occurrence of daily rings in the otoliths of Oncorhynchus nerka fry and examines their relationship to growth. In experiment 1, sockeye salmon fry were collected from the Fulton River spawning channel at Babine Lake, British Columbia in May 1978. The fish were reared for 26 days in enclosures in the spawning channel and were sampled every seven to ten days. Sagittae were removed from 25 fish from each sample, and the growth rings in one otolith from each fish were counted. A regression of the number of rings on the number of days since capture showed that these rings are, on average, formed daily, beginning at the time of emergence. A number of possible technical and biological causes of variation in ring counts within and between samples are considered. In Experiment 2, sockeye salmon fry were reared in the laboratory from fertilized eggs taken in the fall of 1978 at the Weaver Creek spawning channel near Mission, British Columbia. A random sample of 64 of these fry was marked to enable identification of individuals. Each individual was weighed initially on June 6 or 8, again on July 6, and surviving fish were weighed a third time on July 20. After a final weighing, sagittae were removed and a standard otolith radius was determined by counting back the appropriate number of daily rings which corresponded to each weight. The regression of £n otolith radius on £n fish weight was linear, and had an R2 of 0.92, which demonstrates a relationship between the mean width of a daily ring in sockeye salmon fry sagittae, and a mean daily change in the weight of the fry. Using this regression line, we back-calculated the previous weight of the individual fish from the corresponding otolith radius and a latter fish weight and otolith radius and found the errors to be relatively small — in the order of 15 per cent. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

Thesis (Ph. D.) -- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 2005. / Vita. Bibliography: 197-219.

Background: The otoliths act as gravito-inertial force sensors and contribute to the perception of spatial orientation. The perception of gravitational vertical can be assessed by asking a subject to adjust a light bar to the vertical. Prior to clinical use of the SVV (subjective visual vertical) test, normative data and test-retest reliability must be established. Purpose: To obtain normative data and d etermine the test-retest reliability for the SVV test performed in static and dynamic test conditions. Research Design: A descriptive design was used to obtain normative data. Study Sample: Twenty-four young adults with no history of neurological disease, middle-ear pathology, open or closed head injury, cervical injury, or audiovestibular disorder participated in the study. Data Collection and Analysis: The SVV angle was measured in the static position and in three dynamic conditions: (1) on-axis clockwise (CW) rotation, (2) off-axis CW rotation of right ear, and (3) off-axis CW rotation of left ear. Results: In young healthy individuals, the SVV was Conclusions: The normative data obtained in this study may be useful in identifying patients with chronic utricular dysfunction. We recommend the use of difference angles (on-axis SVV ‐ off-axis SVV) to remove baseline bias and decrease the variability of the SVV angles for the off-axis conditions.

Despite our understanding of the impact of noise-induced damage to the auditory system, much less is known about the impact of noise exposure on the vestibular system. In this article, we review the anatomical, physiological, and functional evidence for noise-induced damage to peripheral and central vestibular structures. Morphological studies in several animal models have demonstrated cellular damage throughout the peripheral vestibular system and particularly in the otolith organs; however, there is a paucity of data on the effect of noise exposure on human vestibular end organs. Physiological studies have corroborated morphological studies by demonstrating disruption across vestibular pathways with otolith-mediated pathways impacted more than semicircular canal-mediated pathways. Similar to the temporary threshold shifts observed in the auditory system, physiological studies in animals have suggested a capacity for recovery following noise-induced vestibular damage. Human studies have demonstrated that diminished sacculo-collic responses are related to the severity of noise-induced hearing loss, and dose-dependent vestibular deficits following noise exposure have been corroborated in animal models. Further work is needed to better understand the physiological and functional consequences of noise-induced vestibular impairment in animals and humans.

Young adults are more likely to suffer blast injury and traumatic brain injury (TBI) than other age groups. This article reviews the literature on the vestibular consequences of blast exposure and TBI and concussion. In addition, the vestibular test findings obtained from 31 veterans with a history of blast exposure and/or mild TBI are presented. The authors discuss loss of horizontal semicircular canal function and postural instability related to head injury. Preliminary data suggest the novel theory that otolith organs are uniquely vulnerable to head injury and blast exposure.