Effect of iodoacetic acid upon cochlear potentials

Lotz et al. reported that perilymphatic application of 5 X 10(-3) M iodoacetic acid (IAA) in the guinea pig does not influence the first-order cochlear microphonics (CM1) under aerobic conditions. However, in ischemia the rate of decline of the second-order microphonics (CM II, also called postmortem CM) was significantly increased by IAA. The authors concluded that glycolysis plays no role in maintaining the CMI, but that it is responsible for supporting the CMII. In carefully controlled experiments we found that in the respiring guinea pig, perilymphatic application of 5 X 10(-3) M IAA produced a rapid and pronounced effect upon both the endolymphatic potential and the CM. In particular, the CM dropped to less than 0.5% of its initial level within 40 min, due to IAA, whereas it took 120 min to drop to the same level in total ischemia (without IAA). We therefore reject the above-mentioned proposition that IAA is ineffective upon cochlear potentials under aerobic conditions; moreover, we find that even under aerobic conditions, the CM drops well below the usual CM II level substantially faster than under anaerobic conditions (without IAA). Other important findings, including an anoxia-sensitive negative component of the endolymphatic potential due to severe intoxication with IAA, and the effects of pretreatment of the organ of Corti with low concentrations of IAA upon the CM II are discussed.