title: Cochlear degeneration in guinea pigs after repeated hyperbaric exposures.
abstract: The effects of repeated hyperbaric exposures on inner ear function and morphology in guinea pigs were investigated with auditory electrophysiological testing, histopathological and electron microscopic techniques associated with enzyme histochemical method. The results showed that repeated hyperbaric exposures, though considered "safe," did cause damage to the cochlear system. Possible causes of the pathology include direct effects of repeated compression and decompression on the ear, and the possibility of inner ear decompression sickness and barotrauma cannot be excluded.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diving Medicine, Naval Medical Research Institute, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: X Y
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Gong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003051:Cochlea / Q000473:pathology*; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000473:pathology*; D004242:Diving; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000473:pathology; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000473:pathology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000502:physiology; D009925:Organ of Corti / Q000473:pathology