Effect of Artificial Endolymph Injection into the Cochlear Duct on Perilymph Potassium

梅尼埃病的病理特征是内淋巴积水。然而，梅尼埃袭击期间症状的原因尚不清楚。梅尼埃病发作的一种假说是，内淋巴积水导致外淋巴钾升高，钾对第八神经有毒性作用。梅尼埃病的颞骨组织病理学结果，包括Reissner膜破裂，支持这一假说。如果是这样的话，高K^+的内淋巴应该会渗入前庭阶内。前庭阶内较高的K+可通过螺旋韧带进入鼓阶，在顶端可通过螺旋孔进入鼓阶。然而，K~(++)内淋巴渗漏的原因不仅可能是由于Reissner膜的破裂，而且还可能是由于耳蜗管的通透性改变而没有破裂，这表明并非所有的颞骨在攻击后都观察到Reissner膜的破裂。本研究的目的是在无Reissner膜破裂的情况下，探讨内淋巴积水与外淋巴钾的关系。

The pathological feature of Meniere's disease is endolymphatic hydrops. However, the causes of symptoms during Meniere's attacks remain unclear. One hypothesis of the Meniere's attack is that endolymphatic hydrops causes perilymphatic potassium increase and the potassium has a toxic effect on the eighth nerve.^<1,2> The results from temporal bone histopathology of Meniere's disease that include the rupture of the Reissner's membrane support this hypothesis. If it is the case, high K^+ of endolymph should leak into scala vestibuli. The higher K^+ in scala vestibuli could propagate into scala tympani through the spiral ligament and, in apical regions, through the helicotrema. However, the cause of K^+ leakage from endolymph could occur not only from a rupture of the Reissner's membrane but also from a permeability change of the cochlear duct without rupture, suggested by observations that Reissner's membrane ruptures are not observed in all temporal bones following attacks. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between endolymphatic hydrops and perilymphatic potassium under conditions without Reissner's membrane rupture.