Ultrastructure of the lateral cochlear wall following intermixing of fluids

Effects of combined rupture of Reissner's membrane and the round window on hearing in the guinea pig

Hearing impairment caused by sequential rupture of Reissner's membrane and the round window was investigated in guinea pigs to determine if the double-membrane break can cause acute profound sensorineural hearing loss. Reissner's membrane was lacerated through the stria vascularis at one of the turns of the cochlea, followed by rupture of the round window to create leakage of the perilymph. Action potentials (APs) to tone pip stimuli were recorded from the Fallopian canal electrode before and 90 min after these procedures. The results showed that the ears with the double-membrane break at the second turn showed a larger increase in AP threshold than did the control ears with only round window rupture. However, this was not seen when Reissner's membrane had been ruptured at the other turns.

Effects on cochlear morphology of repeated insults to the stria vascularis

The interrelationship of stria vascularis and organ of Corti integrity was investigated. Strial morphology was altered by repeated injections of ethacrynic acid in the chinchilla. Although prolonged temporary strial damage was created, neither strial atrophy nor organ of Corti damage resulted.

Role of perilymphatic fistula in sudden hearing loss: an animal model

The electrophysiologic response of the guinea pig cochlea was monitored after sequential lesions to Reissner's membrane and the round window (RW). Action potential (AP) responses to click stimuli were recorded from the RW before and after discrete puncture-type lesions were created in the cochlear partition of the second turn. Observed decrements were typically minor, comparable to no greater than 10 dB attenuation of stimulus intensity. The RW membranes then were perforated to create perilymphatic fistulas. Further monitoring demonstrated a rapid (within 5 to 10 minutes), severe decrement in AP amplitude and latency, with complete loss of the AP within 1 hour. Control animals with RW perforations alone did not show these decrements. Correct placement of the second turn lesions was documented by histology. We conclude that discrete lesions in the cochlear duct are not reflected in the AP input-output functions unless there is a fluid leak from the RW, and thus present a possible model for idiopathic sudden hearing loss.

Ultrastructure of the stria vascularis and Reissner's membrane in experimental hydrops

A time-sequence study was made of the early ultrastructural changes of the stria vascularis and Reissner's membrane in the guinea pig after obliteration of the endolymphatic sac and duct. Pathological alterations of both the stria vascularis and Reissner's membrane were found to start in the apex of the cochlea. The morphological changes of the stria vascularis were characterized by an increase of vesicles in the marginal cells and by intercellular edema, followed by vacuolization and atrophy of marginal and intermediate cells. In Reissner's membrane extensive gaps in the mesothelial cell layer were observed together with intracellular pathology of the epithelial cells. The significance of these ultrastructural changes in the stria vascularis and Reissner's membrane with regard to the pathophysiology of the endolymphatic hydrops is discussed.

Cochlear Vessel Permeability to Horseradish Peroxidase in the Normal and Acoustically Traumatized Chinchilla: A Reevaluation

A method involving incubation of intact cochleae using the small protein, horseradish peroxidase, has revealed that a barrier exists between the blood and the stria vascularis. This barrier is more tenuous than the barrier that exists across other cochlear vessels. The stria — strial vessel barrier can be altered physiologically by acoustic trauma or artifactually by dissection.

Fistulae in the membranous labyrinth

Fistulization at various parts of the membranous labyrinth has been currently in use as one of the treatments for the symptoms of Meniere's disease. The present report concerns our experience with membranous fistulae in experimental animal ears with and without manifestation of endolymphatic hydrops. The materials presented are mostly new; however, our previous data are also incorporated in order to bring this issue into better perspective. The first part describes the nonproduction aspect of endolymphatic hydrops in the rat, chinchilla, and squirrel monkey after obliteration of the endolymphatic duct in relation to the occurrence of spontaneous fistulae. The second part describes surgical fistulization of the vestibular membranous labyrinth and cochlear duct in order to prevent or control development of endolymphatic hydrops in the guinea pig, the species in which hydrops can be produced consistently. These results are tabulated and analyzed in terms of the pathological consequences that can be expected in performing fistulization of the membranous labyrinths in animals as well as in humans.

The effect of bumetanide on the stria vascularis: a stereological analysis of cell volume density

The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of bumetanide on the volume density (Vv) of the cells, capillaries and intercellular spaces of the stria vascularis (SV). 29 chinchillas were divided into seven groups. There were 3 experimental groups, three control groups and one normal, untreated, group of animals. After either a 20 mg/kg intravenous injection of bumetanide or an injection of a control solution, the animals were killed at 10 min, 1 h and 24 h. One complete radial section of the SV was analyzed in each animal. This section was located at 70% of the length of the basilar membrane as measured from the cochlear apex. Marginal cell volume decreased by 24% and 15% at 10 min and 1 h, respectively, after bumetanide administration. Intermediate cell volume increased by 31% and 27% at 10 min and 1 h, respectively, after bumetanide administration. Intercellular space volume increased by 14% and 21% at 10 min and 1 h, respectively, after bumetanide administration. No significant alteration in the Vv was observed in the strial capillaries or basal cells. A hypothetical model of the ion transporting properties of the SV is presented.

Cochlear fluid balance. A clinical/research overview

Stria edema, and in some cases atrophy, follows osmotic agents, loop-inhibiting diuretics, acoustic trauma, and rupture of Reissner's membrane. All have in common an imbalance of fluid and electrolytes in the cochlear duct. The glycerol test causes temporary improvement in hearing in Menière's disease. Glycerol causes stria edema and collapse of Reissner's membrane in the chinchilla. Stria edema, as well as stria atrophy, are found in Menière's disease. Metabolic manipulation of the stria might be that the best approach in the search for successful treatment of Menière's disease.

Recovery of the endocochlear potential and the K+ concentrations in the cochlear fluids after acoustic trauma

Intense noise stimulation (142 dB, 1/3-octave-band noise centred at 1 kHz for 1 h) causes damage mainly in the second turn of the cochlea. Several hours (3-5) after the noise exposure, the endocochlear potential (EP) was found to be very low (5.7 +/- 6.0 mV). Similarly, the K+ concentration in the endolymph (Ke+) had decreased to low values (18.9 +/- 9.5 mM). The return of EP and Ke+ to normal values took 5-20 days. In contrast to the Ke+ changes, the perilymph K+ concentration (Kp+) increased slightly after the noise exposure to 4.5 +/- 1.7 mM and returned to normal values one day after the exposure. Differences were found in the time course of the EP, Ke+ and Kp+ changes after the arrest of ventilat ion when animals with acoustic trauma were com,ared with normal healthy individuals. The anoxic EP in noise-exposed animals never decreased to values more negative than -20 mV. The results imply that the inner ear mechanisms maintaining positive EP, Ke+ and Kp+ are severely damaged after acoustic trauma and that their function is restored in 5-20 days. With respect to some parameters (decrease of the EP during anoxia, the value of anoxic negative EP, EP overshoot after reventilation) the inner ear mechanisms are, however, still abnormal.

Stria vascularis pathology and recovery following noise exposure

The time course of chinchilla stria pathology (edema) and recovery after one and two noise exposures is quantitatively and qualitatively described. Gross stria edema is present one, three, and seven days following one noise exposure; stria edema is not as severe nor as frequent following two noise exposures. Stria cell and vessel pathology are also observed at seven and ten days after one, but not two, noise exposures. Possible mechanisms of stria pathology and recovery after noise exposure are discussed.