Inner ear fluid metabolism regulated by natriuretic peptide family

本实验在螺旋韧带和内淋巴囊上皮中观察到利钠肽受体。虽然内耳和腹腔注射利钠肽对内淋巴积水豚鼠的听力功能和内耳结构没有影响，但与对照组相比，CNP基因敲除小鼠表现出明显的听力损失。人和大鼠内淋巴囊均有ANP受体表达，内淋巴囊积水患者血清BNP水平明显升高。这些观察结果表明，利钠肽可能参与内耳液体代谢。需要进一步的研究来证实这些观察结果。

In the present study, natriuretic peptide receptors were observed in spiral ligament and epithelium of endolymphatic sac. Although audiological function and inner ear structure in the guinea pigs with endolymphatic hydrops were not affected by natriuretic peptide infusions to both inner ear and peritoneal cavity, CNP knockout mice displayed significant hearing loss, comparing with controls. ANP receptors were observed in human endolymphatic sac as well as rat endolymphatic sac, and the levels of serum BNP in patients with endolymphatic hydrops were significantly elevated. These observations suggest that natriuretic peptides may be involved in inner ear fluid metabolism. The further studies are needed to confirm the observations.