INNER EAR FLUID INTERACTIONS

影响内耳液体的疾病，如梅尼埃病和 外淋巴瘘，还没有得到充分的理解。 这是一个结果，我们 关于维持体内平衡机制的知识有限， 正常耳内的耳蜗液 在过去的五年里，我们开创了 离子示踪技术的使用使我们能够表征 耳蜗液的一些基本特性。 纵向流动 在耳蜗和车厢之间的通信已被监测 使用包括离子选择性微电极的各种技术。 这种电极可以密封在耳蜗中，允许测量， 同时避免在此类研究中常见的伪影， 过去 数据已被定量解释的援助， 数学模型，使被动溶质运动， 整合到耳蜗的通用模型中。 同样的追踪器 技术已经得到扩展，使我们能够测量内淋巴体积， 在实验性治疗期间体内。 这一措施至关重要，如果我们 目的是研究正常耳和正常耳的内淋巴容量调节， 水肿的潜在机制 我们计划将生理和 体内生化变化和组织学测量体积变化 在豚鼠水肿的发展过程中。 的时序表 将被建立以区分主要事件和次要效应。 内淋巴钙紊乱在水肿中的作用将是 鉴定 我们还将检验Reissner's的扩张 膜损害前庭阶和前庭神经元之间的正常交叉通信， 鼓阶 这个问题可以解释前庭症状 与梅尼埃病有关。 这些研究将作为 耳蜗液相互作用的全面研究 实验的设计和解释将结合 耳蜗和相关液体的综合动力学模型。 只有 了解整个耳蜗前庭系统如何对 病理性障碍可以合理的预防策略， 梅尼埃病的诊断和治疗。

Diseases which affect inner ear fluids, such as Meniere's disease and perilymph fistula, are not adequately understood. This is a result of our limited knowledge regarding the homeostatic mechanisms which maintain cochlear fluids in the normal ear. Over the past 5 years we have pioneered the use of ionic tracer techniques which have allowed us to characterize some of the fundamental properties of cochlear fluids. Longitudinal flow in the cochlea and communication between compartments has been monitored using a variety of techniques which involve ion-selective microelectrodes. Such electrodes can be sealed into the cochlea, permitting measurements to be made while avoiding artifacts which have been common in such studies in the past. Data have been interpreted quantitatively with the aid of mathematical models, enabling the passive solute movements to be incorporated into a generalized model of the cochlea. The same tracer techniques have now been extended, allowing us to measure endolymph volume in vivo during experimental treatments. This measure is essential if we are to investigate endolymph volume regulation in the normal ear and the mechanisms underlying hydrops. We plan to correlate physiological and biochemical changes with in vivo and histologically measures volume changes during the development of hydrops in guinea pigs. The chronology of events will be established to distinguish primary events from secondary effects. The role that endolymph calcium disturbances play in hydrops will be identified. We will also test the hypothesis that distension of Reissner's membrane impairs the normal cross-communication between scala vestibuli and scala tympani. This problem could account for the vestibular symptoms associated with Meniere's disease. These studies will be performed as part of a comprehensive investigation of cochlear fluid interactions. Experiments will be designed and interpreted in conjunction with a comprehensive kinetic model of the cochlea and related fluids. Only by understanding how the entire cochleo-vestibular system responds to pathologic disturbances can rational strategies for the prevention diagnosis, and treatment of Meniere's disease be achieved.