Effects of hyperbaric therapy on function and morphology of Guinea pig cochlea with endolymphatic hydrops

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect on experimental endolymphatic hydrops in guinea pigs after hyperbaric therapy.

The histopathologic character of Ménière's disease is the presence of endolymphatic hydrops. Endolymphatic hypertension could be one of the factors resulting from endolymphatic hydrops. Some treatments of Ménière's disease are aimed toward preventing the endolymphatic hypertension. Exposure to pressure change has risen in recent years.

Thirty-two guinea pigs were operated on the right ears to induce endolymphatic hydrops by obliterating the endolymphatic sac through an extradural posterior cranial fossa approach. After 5 weeks' survival, 12 guinea pigs were put into a chamber with an absolute atmospheric pressure of 2.2 for 3 weeks (90 minutes once a day 5 times a week). We observed the morphologic and functional changes in guinea pig cochleae of the pressure group, 4-week hydrops group (n = 10), 8-week hydrops group (n = 10), and the normal group (n = 10). We measured the hearing threshold of the auditory brainstem response, the 70-dB SPL action potential (AP) latency, the ratio of 70-dB SPL summating potential magnitude to action potential magnitude (-SP/AP) of the electrocochleogram, and the maximum scala media area (SMA) ratio, respectively.

The average 70-dB SPL-SP/AP magnitude of right ears (0.29 +/- 0.09) and the average maximum SMA ratio (2.23 +/- 0.20) in the pressure group were significantly less than that in the 8-week hydrops group (0.69 +/- 0.15 and 4.04 +/- 0.52, respectively) with the same survival time (p < 0.05). The results in the pressure group were almost as similar as that in the 4-week hydrops group (0.29 +/- 0.13 and 2.22 +/- 0.20, respectively) (p > 0.05). The average hearing threshold of ABR of right ears in the pressure group (36.67 +/- 14.30-dB SPL) was lower than that of the 8-week hydrops group (44 +/-1 4.30-dB SPL), but the difference was insignificant (p > 0.05). The average 70-dB SPL AP latency of right ears in the pressure group was not significantly different from those of the 8-week hydrops group, the 4-week hydrops group, or the normal group (p > 0.05).

Our findings suggest hyperbaric therapy can significantly suppress the development of endolymphatic hydrops and improve cochlear function in guinea pigs. This study provided strong evidence for the development of pressure treatment of Ménière's disease without destroying the inner ear.