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- Title
Direct visualization of living organ of Corti and studies of its extracellular fluids.
- Authors
Lawrence, Merle; Lawrence, M
- Abstract
Occlusion of all or parts of any of the three separate capillary systems supplying the organ of Corti and its related tissues could result in different audiometric symptoms; however, little is known about the functional relationship between these capillaries and the tissues, so a series of experiments has been carried out to provide some data. Sometime ago we reported an experiment that demonstrated a different role for the capillaries of the stria vascularis than for those underlying the osseous spiral lamina and basilar membrane. These latter capillaries care for the immediate demands of the organ of Corti. Probably the greatest handicap to more complete research has been the inability to observe the cells, spaces, and capillaries of the organ of Corti in the living state. This paper describes an approach to the inner ear of the guinea pig that provides a view of the sensory area without injuring essential capillaries. By means of a surgical approach to the round window a bit of bony promontory is removed to expose the basilar membrane. Removal of the stapes allows light from a cool fiber optics source to reflect from the walls of the vestibule to reveal the cells and spaces of the organ of Corti. Under this direct visualization, electrodes to monitor dc resting potentials or to measure oxygen concentrations are placed in the extracellular spaces. A motion picture shows the technique. Experiments that determined the boundaries of the organ of Corti fluids and capillaries that provide oxygen to these spaces and subsequently to the sensory cells are reviewed. The tectorial membrane seals the fluids of the organ of Corti spaces including the inner sulcus from endolymph, and the spiral vessels provide oxygen to these fluids. Occlusion of the spiral capillaries causes a relatively rapid degeneration of the organ of Corti in that region, whereas occlusion to capillaries of the spiral ligament and its structures may produce altered function of the organ of Corti and perhaps its degeneration over a longer period of time.
- Subjects
COCHLEA physiology; OXYGEN analysis; ELECTRODES; ENDOLYMPH; FIBER optics; PERILYMPH; COCHLEA; META-analysis; RESEARCH methodology; ARTIFICIAL implants; ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY; EXTRACELLULAR space; GUINEA pigs
- Publication
Laryngoscope, 1974, Vol 84, Issue 10, p1767
- ISSN
0023-852X
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1288/00005537-197410000-00011