[Microperforation and removal of the round window membrane. Short- and long-term study in animal experiments using...

Our earlier animal experiments on guinea pigs showed that instrumental perforation of the round window membrane by a 0.2 mm platinum wire leads to an instant loss of the inner ear functions. The membrane defect healed in a few days, the cochlear structures remained intact, and the compound action potential of the auditory nerve and the brain-stem responses could be evoked again with normal latency times within 2 weeks. 1. In the studies reported here we first carried out microperforations with a 1 micron needle electrode, which caused no changes of the hearing potentials (cochlear microphonics, compound action potential of the auditory nerve, brain-stem responses), and no visible defect of the round window membrane and no perilymph outflow. 2. The removal of the round window membrane and the withdrawal of the perilymph led to a loss of the cochlear microphonics and to a considerable increase of the latency times of wave I (Jewett). The hearing potential regained their original values after 2 weeks without closure of the round window niche. The round window membrane had regenerated spontaneously and the scala tympani was again filled with perilymph. After covering the round window niche with a connective tissue graft, the hearing potentials regained their original values after 2 weeks, as they had done without cover of the round window niche. The round window membrane regenerated below the tissue graft and the scala tympani was also filled again with perilymph.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)