Observations on the pattern of sensorineural degeneration in the human cochlea

Cochlear sensory and neural degeneration was examined in nine pairs of human temporal bones fixed by perilymphatic perfusion, using phase-contrast and electron microscopy. Four pairs, three from females, had only slight sensorineural degeneration, limited to the very basal end of the cochlea. A predominantly neural degeneration was identified in a 54-year-old male. The process was bilateral, asymmetrical, uneven, and involved the entire length of the cochlea with several circumscribed areas of severe nerve degeneration. One case had mild, diffuse sensorineural degeneration in the lower half of the basal turn characteristic of presbyacusis. The other three pairs, all from males, revealed sensorineural degeneration patterns associated with noise injury and were remarkably similar to or almost identical with cochleas described previously. There was a good correlation between the presence of supporting cells and the survival of nerve fibres in the osseous spiral lamina in the corresponding area. In one cochlea, however, the degeneration of only inner hair cells in a small area was associated with complete nerve degeneration in the corresponding sector of the spiral lamina. Giant cilia were frequently seen in the apical turn.