Effects of persistent perilymph fistula on the inner ear.
To study the effects of a persistent perilymph fistula on the cochlea, a small cannula was inserted into the scala tympani of the basal turn of cochlea in guinea pigs. A month later, cochlear morphology and blood flow were studied using either histological evaluation or the microsphere surface preparation technique. Some animals showed no cochlear morphologic changes or no cochlear blood-flow reduction, even if tubal patency was maintained and perilymph leakage lasted for 1 month. This suggests that a prolonged perilymph fistula, per se, causes no permanent cochlear damage. However, in some animals, hair cell damage and cochlear blood-flow disorders were observed. These observations and the causes of hearing loss in clinical cases of perilymph fistula were studied.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
Y
Y
Kaseki
T
T
Nakashima
S
S
Fukuta
T
T
Suzuki
N
N
Yanagita
D000818:Animals; D015834:Cochlear Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005402:Fistula / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006199:Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner / Q000473:pathology; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000503:physiopathology; D008863:Microspheres; D009925:Organ of Corti / Q000473:pathology; D010498:Perilymph; D012405:Round Window, Ear / Q000473:pathology; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests