Cochlear vessel permeability to horseradish peroxidase after diuretic administration in the chinchilla

The permeability of strial vessels to the small protein, HRP, was examined after administration of diuretics to determine if increased vascular permeability is a factor in the development of strial edema as it is in acoustic trauma. Chinchillas were injected with HRP and either ethacrynic acid, a loop-inhibiting diuretic, or mannitol, an osmotic diuretic. There was no increased vascular permeability to HRP. Therefore, unlike the increased vessel permeability of HRP seen after an acoustic insult, increased vessel permeability of HRP is not a factor in the formation of strial edema after either mannitol or ethacrynic acid administration.