A MODEL FOR LONG-TERM INTRACOCHLEAR ADMINISTRATION OF PHARMACOLOGICALAGENTS

A technique is described that provides a method to study the effects o f intracochlear pharmacologic agents on the degenerating auditory nerv e. The model involves implanting a guinea pig with an osmotic minipump that allows slow pefusion of the cochlea over a period of hours to da ys with up to two water soluble substances. Neomycin and horseradish p eroxidase, whose histopathologic effects on the cochlea are well known , are used in the present study to validate the efficacy of the system .