Development of Endolymphatic Hydrops Following Immune Response in the Endolymphatic Sac of the Guinea Pig

Abstract

The present study investigated immune injury associated with endolymphatic hydrops (e.hydrops) following locally mounted immune reaction in the endolymphatic sac (e.sac) of guinea pigs. E.hydrops occurred, progressing rapidly within the first week post secondary Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) challenge in the e.sac and developed into two phases, acute and chronic. On the other hand, primary KLH challenge of the e.sac, PBS inoculation into the e.sac or intradural secondary KLH challenge were incapable of inducing e.hydrops. These results indicate that reversible and irreversible e.hydrops are induced by the immune response of the e.sac, suggesting that local immunological events of the e.sac may provide an animal model of Meniere's disease.

Expression of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase in the Cochlea following Immune Response in the Endolymphatic Sac of Guinea Pigs

“…However, in this model the morphological and functional changes do not fluctuate but progress; nevertheless, patients with Ménière's disease exhibit fluctuating hearing disturbance, tinnitus and vertigo. We have reported that the endolymphatic sac plays a role not only in the immune defense of the inner ear but also in immune injury of the inner ear and the immune reaction in the endolymphatic sac induces fluctuating hearing disturbance similar to that in Ménière's disease [6,[9][10][11][12].…”

“…We have previously reported that direct challenge of antigen in the endolymphatic sac can cause hydrops. Our previous studies [6,[9][10][11][12] suggest that the immune reaction in the endolymphatic sac induces fluctuation of hearing disturbance similar to that seen in Ménière's disease. The purpose of our study was to examine the expression of iNOS in the experimentally induced endolymphatic hydrops of guinea pigs following immune reactions.…”

“…However, the pathogenesis of Ménière's disease is still not well known. The typical morphological findings of Mé-nière's disease are endolymphatic hydrops and fibrosis of the endolymphatic sac [6]. The endolymphatic sac has many physiological functions such as absorption of endolymphatic fluid, control of endolymphatic pressure [7] and immunological reaction of the inner ear [8].…”

Le sac endolymphatique : ses fonctions au sein de l’oreille interne

“…Le rôle de la perte de fonction de la H + -ATPase du sac endolymphatique dans l'étiopathogénie de la surdité reste à déterminer. l'injection de KLH (keyhole limpet hemocyanin) dans la région du sac chez des cochons d'Inde préalablement sensibilisés à cet antigène par voie sous-cutanée, entraîne le développement d'un hydrops endolymphatique [20]. Ce modèle d'hydrops expérimental mime mieux les symptômes de la maladie de Ménière que ne le fait l'oblitération du sac puisqu'il s'accompagne d'un syndrome audio-vestibulaire aigu réversible alors que l'oblitération du sac induit une symptomatologie progressive et définitive.…”

Fluctuating Hearing Loss following Immune Reaction in the Endolymphatic Sac of Guinea Pigs

“…Our previous studies [5][6][7][8][9] have suggested that an immune reaction in the endolymphatic sac causes attacks of vertigo associated with development of endolymphatic antibody levels as well as histological changes following immune reaction in the endolymphatic sac of guinea pigs.…”