NA,K-ATPASE IN THE COCHLEAR LATERAL WALL OF HUMAN TEMPORAL BONES WITHENDOLYMPHATIC HYDROPS

Meniere's disease has traditionally been thought to arise from a disru ption in longitudinal endolymphatic flow. This view has been brought i nto question by recent experimental studies that have focused attentio n on derangements of cochlear fluid and electrolyte homeostatic mechan isms in Meniere's disease, including abnormalities in Na,K-ATPase enzy mes found in the cochlear lateral wall. The current study examined the immunohistochemical labeling pattern of the major ion-transporting en zyme of the stria vascularis, Na,K-ATPase, in archival sections of hyd ropic and nonhydropic human temporal bones for increased density of la bel that could indicate overproduction of fluid. The results showed go od labeling of the stria vascularis in the celloidin sections. The hyd ropic ears tended to have darker label, but the difference was not sta tistically significant. The findings are consistent with normal functi oning of the stria vascularis in cases of Meniere's disease.