Responses of Cochlear Potentials to Changes in Hydrostatic Pressure

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Abstract
Sustained and transient changes in hydrostatic pressure were transmitted directly to the perilymphatic space of guinea pigs. Pressure applied to scala vestibuli led to an increase in endo-cochlear potential and summating potential, while pressure applied to scala tympani resulted in a decrease of these potentials. Comparable data were also obtained in the anoxic cochlea. The cochlear micro-phonics and action potentials failed to change when moderate amounts of pressure were applied. In guinea pigs whose organ of Corti was largely degenerate and the endocochlear potential was normal, but it did not increase when pressure was applied to scala vestibuli, nor did it consistently decrease during pressure applications to scala tympani. These data were interpreted to mean that changes in the endocochlear potential normally occurring in response to changes in hydrostatic pressure reflect variations in the output of dc generators located on the basilar membrane.

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