CHANGES IN IMMUNOSTAINING OF INNER EARS AFTER ANTIGEN CHALLENGE INTO THE SCALA TYMPANI

To study the mechanisms of immune responses and immune injuries in inn er ears, labyrinthitis was induced by inoculation of keyhole limpet he mocyanin (KLH) into the scala tympani of systemically sensitized guine a pigs, Inner ears were then immunostained for KLH, immunoglobulin G ( IgG), albumin, connexin26 (Cx26), and sodium-potassium adenosine triph osphate (Na,K-ATPase), Inflammatory cells containing KLH were observed in the scalia tympani and in the collecting venule of the spiral modi olar vein (SMV). Spiral ligament, spiral limbus, and blood vessels inc luding the SMV were diffusely positive for IgG: and albumin, Immunorea ctivity for Cx26 and Na,K-ATPase was decreased compared with the norma l ears in the fibrocytes of the spiral ligament, These results suggest that inflammatory cells and blood constituents could extravasate into the cochlea from blood vessels and that fibrocyte damage in the spira l ligament could cause cochlear dysfunction.