Biomedical subjects

A N Salt

Publications and source records attributed to A N Salt.

46 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1982

Functional importance of sodium and potassium in the guinea pig cochlea studied with amiloride and tetraethylammonium.

The effects of amiloride on the cochlear responses in the guinea pig were compared with those produced by tetraethylammonium (TEA). Amiloride has been reported to reduce membrane permeability to sodium in a wide variety of ion-transporting epithelia. TEA has been documented to suppress the active potassium permeability increase during the repolarization phase of the action potential in mammalian excitable cells, and to reduce the resting potassium conductance in mammalian smooth muscle cells. Perilymphatic perfusion of 10(-3) M amiloride or intravenous injection at a dose of 20 mg/kg suppressed the whole nerve action potential (AP) of the cochlea but did not significantly affect the cochlear microphonics (CM) or endocochlear potential (EP). Application of amiloride to endolymph by iontophoretic or perfusion techniques also produced no significant changes of CM and EP when compared with appropriate control procedures. Perilymphatic perfusion of 10(-2) M TEA did not suppress CM or EP but the AP was reduced. Iontophoretic application of TEA to the endolymph caused a marked suppression of CM while the EP was significantly increased. The effects of endolymphatic TEA application are consistent with the concept that the normal EP recorded from scala media is the algebraic sum of a positive electrogenic potential and a negative diffusion potential, the latter component being sensitive to potassium permeability changes of the endolymph-perilymph barrier. Maintenance of normal cochlear microphonics also appears dependent upon the maintenance of normal potassium permeability properties of the endolymph-perilymph barrier. The functional importance of normal sodium permeability properties appears less certain.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1981

Effects of hypothermia on ionic movement in the guinea pig cochlea.

Anesthetized and immobilized guinea pigs were subjected to hypothermia. During cooling, the cochlear microphonics and endocochlear potential decreased and K+ concentrations in both endolymph and perilymph were not significantly affected. The rate constant for K+ turnover to endolymph was determined by uptake of 43K into the endolymph when the perilymphatic space was perfused with artificial perilymph containing 43K. The rate constant for K+ decreased significantly in hypothermic guinea pigs when compared with that in normal guinea pigs. The K+ conductance of the endolymph-perilymph barrier, estimated from the rate constant, showed a marked decrease in hypothermic guinea pigs and was comparable with the K+ conductance, calculated from the rate of change of the endolymph K+ concentrations relative to the K+ electrochemical potential difference, recorded during permanent anoxia. These results suggest that hypothermia not only suppresses the active K+ transport system but also decreases the K+ permeability of the endolymph-perilymph barrier.

Animals↗

PubMed1981

Comparison between the effects of continuous and impact noise on cochlear potentials in guinea pigs.

Cochlear microphonics (CM), action potentials (AP), and endocochlear potential (EP) were recorded from anesthetized, immobilized guinea pigs during potential (EP) were recorded from anesthetized, immobilized guinea pigs during and following 20 min periods of noise exposure. Changes in cochlear potentials were compared in guinea pigs exposed to continuous broadband noise or mechanically generated impact noise of equal energy content. Over a range of continuous noise levels from 95 to 105 dB SPL it was found that continuous noise produced less suppression of CM and a greater suppression of AP than did impact noise of equal energy. A reduction of EP did not accompany CM suppression with either type of noise exposure. Suppression of CM and AP was also compared in guinea pigs with chronically implanted round window electrodes. In these preparations, AP was suppressed to a similar extent by impact and continuous noise of equal energy, but CM was suppressed to a significantly greater extent by impact noise. The data from both series of experiments indicate that the suppression of cochlear responses is not predicted by an "equal energy" rule when impact and continuous noise are compared.

Acoustics↗

PubMed1980

Permeability to potassium of the endolymph-perilymph barrier and its possible relation to hair cell function.

The endocochlear potential and potassium concentrations in endolymph and perilymph were simultaneously measured in the basal turn of the guinea pig cochlea with double-barreled K+ selective electrodes. The K+ conductance and K+ permeability coefficient of the endolymph-perilymph barrier were calculated from the rate of change of endolymph K+ concentration relative to the K+ electrochemical potential difference recorded during permanent anoxia. When anoxia was induced in guinea pigs treated with kanamycin, the rate of decline of the electrochemical potential difference for K+ between the endolymph and perilymph was reduced when compared to normal guinea pigs. In guinea pigs exposed to broad band noise at 115 dBA for periods from 11-15 days, the rate of decline of the electrochemical potential difference for K+ across the endolymph-perilymph barrier was reduced but not to the extent found in guinea pigs treated with kanamycin. The K+ conductance and K+ permeability coefficient of the endolymph-perilymph barrier showed substantial decreases in noise exposed and kanamycin treated guinea pigs, as compared to normal guinea pigs. The magnitude of decrease of K+ permeability of the endolymph-perilymph barrier by noise or kanamycin was correlated with suppression of the maximum output of the cochlear microphonic.

Animals↗

PubMed1979

The effect of raising the scala tympani potassium concentration on the tone-induced cochlear responses of the guinea pig.

Scala tympani (ST) in guinea pig was perfused with modified Ringer's solutions containing 5--50 mM potassium; tone-induced cochlear responses from the basal turn of ST were compared before, during and after perfusions. The compound nerve action potential (N1) and afterpotential (a/p) amplitudes were reduced, especially above 20 mM; the summating potential (SP) was variable, but its onset shape changed consistently with 13--20 mM levels. However, the cochlear microphonic amplitude (CM) remained substantially unchanged even at the 35 mM level. K+ concentration was monitored in ST with ion-sensitive pipettes. Stable levels were reached within 2 min, but N1 responses continued to fall beyond this time. Recovery to normal K+ levels took place spontaneously and the concentration curve which resulted showed a 2-slope characteristic. These experiments question whether elevated potassium concentration in scala tympani depolarizes the hair cells, and if it does, whether the hear cell resting potential is involved in the generation of the CM.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

PubMed1979

Effects of exposure to noise on ion movement in guinea pig cochlea.

Healthy guinea pigs were exposed to broad band noise at levels between 95 and 115 dBA for 7 days. A significant decrease of the sound-induced cochlear responses, together with a substantial increase of the endocochlear potential, was observed in guinea pigs exposed to noise at 105 or 115 dBA. Microsamples of the endolymph obtained from these guinea pigs showed a significant increase of K+ and Cl- concentrations and a decrease of Na+ concentration, when compared with those from control animals. The K+, Na+ and Cl- concentrations in the perilymph were not markedly affected by noise exposure. When the perilymphatic space was perfused with artificial perilymph containing 43K, 22Na or 36 Cl, the uptake of radiotracers into the endolymph showed a single exponential function of the perfusion time. When compared with rate constants in normal animals, the value of rate constant for K+ was significantly decreased in animals exposed to noise. These results indicate that ionic permeability changes of the endolymph-perilymph barrier are a significant factor in the physiological mechanisms underlying noise-induced hearing loss.

Animals↗

PubMed1979

Effects of noise on cochlear potentials and endolymph potassium concentration recorded with potassium-selective electrodes.

Guinea pig cochleas were exposed to either broad-band noise at intensities between 95 and 115 dBA or octave-band noise centered at 380 Hz or 4.2 kHz at intensities between 115 and 125 dB SPL. Cochlear microphonics (CM), summating potentials (SP) and action potentials (AP) were recorded from differential electrodes in the perilymphatic scalae between successive 20-min periods of noise exposure. The endocochlear potential (EP) and endolymph potassium concentration [Kendo+] were recorded continuously from scala media using double-barreled potassium-sensitive electrodes. It was found that the initial exposure to noise at 115 dBA produced considerable suppression of the CM and AP, while the EP and [Kendo+] were elevated above their normal values. When animals previously treated with kanamycin were subjected to the same level of noise exposure no systematic increase in either EP ro [Kendo+] was observed. After prolonged exposure to 380 Hz octave-band noise at 125 dB SPL, a slow decline of EP and [Kendo+] was observed. The relationships between the changes in EP, [Kendo+] and CM are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1979

The effect of cerebrospinal fluid pressure on perilymphatic flow in the opened cochlea.

Scala tympani of guinea pigs was perfused with elevated potassium solutions whose concentraus recovery, the concentration curve showed a 'break' approximately 3 min after perfusion ceased. When the CSF pressure was released by opening the cisterna magna, cochlear flow was markedly reduced, and the recovery curve became smoothly exponential, following a much slower return to control levels. This finding lends support to the idea proposed by Moscovitch, Gannon & Laszlo (1973) that longitudinal flow of CSF contributes to perilymph efflux in the patent cochlea.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Calcium gradients in inner ear endolymph.

Recent studies suggest that endolymphatic hydrops resulting from the ablation of the endolymphatic duct and sac in guinea pigs may be caused by a disturbance of endolymph calcium homeostasis. A similar disturbance of calcium homeostasis could represent the underlying cause of Ménière's disease. In this study, we mapped the calcium concentrations and electrical potentials throughout the endolymphatic system in normal guinea pigs. Large concentration differences exist between different compartments, including a more than twofold increase along the length of the cochlea. The electrochemical potential for calcium (the force driving passive longitudinal calcium movement) was calculated for all the endolymphatic compartments. The results show that endolymph is extremely inhomogenous with respect to calcium potentials. On the basis of these potentials, it appears that calcium is transported into endolymph in the cochlea and out of endolymph in the saccule and utricle. The possibility that endolymphatic hydrops arises from a disturbance in longitudinal flow of calcium, rather than in longitudinal volume flow, is considered.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of exposure to noise on permeability to potassium of the endolymph-perilymph barrier in guinea pigs.

Healthy guinea pigs were exposed to broadband noise at 115 dBA for 7 days. When perfusion of the scala vestibuli was carried with artificial perilymph containing 43K, the 43K concentrations in the perilymph of the scala tympani were very low in both control and noise-exposed guinea pigs. The transport rate constant for K+ was computed by utilizing compartmental analysis. The results indicate that exposure to noise at 115 dBA for 7 days does not alter the permeability to K+ of Reissner's membrane or the lateral wall of the cochlear duct but does decrease K+ conductance of the organ of Corti.

Action Potentials↗