[Narrow nystagmus writing and hypoxemia of the central vestibular system (author's transl)].

To explain the origin of the narrow nystagmus writing (petite écriture), selected patients with hypoxemia were examined using the pendular rotating test and ENG. Bloodgas analysis was used to determine pO2 reduction. The decreased oxygen saturation was corresponding to the decreased amplitude of nystagmus. In a second experiment with alert rabbits the inspired gas mixture was altered to obtain hypoxia (8% O2 + 92% N2, controlled with bloodgas analysis). A significant reduction from the normal nystagmus reaction was observed. This reduction in the amplitude (about 50%) is immediately reversible by giving oxygen. These experiments were repeated with each animal several times, the results being reproductible. There is a significant decrease in nystagmusamplitude through the influence of hypoxia.