Key result
Autonomic agents show weak sympathetic alpha-receptor control of cochlear vessels without beta or parasympathetic modulation.
Why the study?
Do autonomic nervous system agents affect cochlear blood flow in guinea pigs?
Do autonomic nervous system agents affect cochlear blood flow in guinea pigs?
This preclinical study demonstrates that cochlear blood flow in guinea pigs is weakly modulated by sympathetic alpha-receptors, with no apparent beta-receptor or parasympathetic control.
Should not change clinical practice; leaves open whether weak alpha-receptor control of cochlear vessels applies in humans.
Effects of intraarterial and intravenous injections of autonomic nervous system agents on cochlear blood flow were studied in order to investigate the neural control of the inner ear vessels. Blood flow changes in the inner ear of the guinea pig were measured with an electrical impedance plethysmograph. Rather weak control of the vertebrobasilar and labyrinthine arteries by the sympathetic nervous system of the alpha-receptor type did appear to exist. Beta-receptors of the sympathetic nerve appeared to be non-existent in the cochlear vessels, and parasympathetic modulation was not evident.
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Fumiro Suga (1976) studied Neural control of inner ear vessels. Intraarterial and intravenous injections of autonomic nervous system agents was evaluated on Blood flow changes in the inner ear. Intraarterial and intravenous injections of autonomic nervous system agents showed weak sympathetic alpha-receptor control of cochlear vessels, with no evidence of beta-receptor or parasympathetic modulation.