A potential portal flow in the inner ear.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to visualize the flow direction of blood in the extraosseous part of the vein of the vestibular aqueduct (VVA) and to explore the effect of an induced obstruction in the distal part of the VVA before it merges with the sigmoid sinus. The endolymphatic sac has been implicated as a potential endocrine gland, which venules drain to the VVA. A reversal of the direction of flow in the VVA toward the inner ear could, through vestibular arteriovenous anastomosis, cause portal circulation in the inner ear.


METHODS
The authors conducted an experimental animal study using in vivo fluorescence microscopy.


RESULTS
Obstructing the distal part of the VVA just before it empties into the sigmoid sinus immediately reverses the flow of blood in the VVA toward the inner ear.


CONCLUSIONS
After an obstruction of the VVA, the drained venous blood from the endolymphatic sac may enter a portal circulation in the inner ear, which could cause disturbances in the endolymph homeostasis and potentially symptoms as seen in Meniere disease.
Friis
Morten
M
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Unviersity of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. morten_friis@hotmail.com
Qvortrup
Klaus
K
D000818:Animals; D001163:Arteriovenous Anastomosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004710:Endolymph / Q000502:physiology; D004712:Endolymphatic Sac / Q000098:blood supply; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000503:physiopathology; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D014680:Veins / Q000473:pathology; D014699:Venules / Q000473:pathology; D014723:Vestibular Aqueduct / Q000098:blood supply*; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000098:blood supply