title: Early histopathologic changes after lateral semicircular canal transection and occlusion in guinea pigs.
abstract: Occlusion of the semicircular canals has been used in otoneurologic and skull base surgeries with preservation of hearing. In order to understand the role of occlusion in hearing preservation, we observed early histopathologic changes of the lateral semicircular canal following transection and occlusion in guinea pigs. After surgery, the membranous endolymphatic canal was collapsed, and its torn ends were sealed by intramural bone dust in the bony semicircular canal. On the first postoperative day, the endolymphatic canal was expanded to its normal shape, and the sealing at the torn ends was maintained by the bone dust. These findings suggest that occlusion after semicircular canal injuries, by making blind ducts in the membranous endolymphatic canal, is important for the preservation of postoperative hearing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Taejon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Boo Hyun
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Chan Il
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Timothy T K
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004710:Endolymph; D004711:Endolymphatic Duct; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006309:Hearing; D010498:Perilymph; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000473:pathology*