[Experimental autoimmune lesions of the inner ear]

This paper presents the autoimmune lesions of the inner ear by using isologous inner ear antigen (IEAg) on the guinea pigs. The purposes of this study were to determine whether the inner ear is an immune response organ and what is the sequelae of the immune processes both on physiological and morphological changes in the inner ear. Animals were systemically sensitized with IEAg in complete Freund's adjuvant and boothed with IEAg in incomplete Freund's adjuvant three times in every 3-4 weeks and then allowed to survive 4-6 weeks. For the ABR measurement, 8 of 28 ears (28.6%) in the experimental group showed threshold enhancement greater than or equal to 10dB before the animal sacrifice and the mean threshold shift of the ABR 8 weeks post immunization and before sacrifice revealed significant difference. Histological specimens were processed for both light and electron microscopic study. In the LM study, it showed endolymphatic hydrops, local thickening of the Reissener's membrane, and spiral ganglion cells lost. In the SEM, disturbance and loss of the cilia of the outer hair cells of the cochlea and the type I and II sensory cells in the crista ampularis can be seen. Also, some otoconia showed numerous malformation.