Ovarian steroid and vasoconstrictor effects on cochlear blood flow
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Trans-Tympanic Drug Delivery for the Treatment of Ototoxicity
Published on: March 16, 2018
G R Laugel1, H A Dengerink, J W Wright
1Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-4830.
Abstract:
Ovariectomized rats received intra-arterial infusions of phenylephrine and nicotine. Estrogen treatment for five days prior to these challenges diminished laser Doppler measures of cochlear blood flow (CBF) responses to phenylephrine and blood pressure responses to nicotine. Progesterone enhanced CBF responses to both phenylephrine and nicotine; combined progesterone and estrogen treatment enhanced blood pressure responses to phenylephrine. These results suggest that ovarian steroid-mediated cardiovascular effects may influence cochlear blood flow and potentially hearing functions.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
The Cochlea
Anatomy of the Ear
Regulation of Stroke Volume
Preload refers to the degree of stretch on the heart before it contracts. It's analogous to the stretching of a rubber band; the more it's stretched, the more forcefully it snaps back. This concept is encapsulated in the Frank-Starling law of the...
Hormonal Regulation of Blood Pressure
Epinephrine and Norepinephrine
The adrenal medulla releases epinephrine and norepinephrine, catecholamines that enhance and extend the sympathetic or "fight or flight" physiological response. These hormones escalate heart rate and the force of contraction while...
Autoregulation of Blood Flow
Chemical Signaling in Autoregulation
Chemical signaling operates at the precapillary sphincter level, inciting either contraction or relaxation.
Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle
Before puberty, the hypothalamus releases GnRH in a low frequency, low amplitude pulsatile manner. This along with the immature hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity, results in low estrogen levels and the absence of a fully functional ovarian cycle. At puberty, GnRH secretion increases in both frequency and...

