Ultrastructural findings in a case of Menière's disease

The temporal bones of an individual with documented unilateral Meniere's disease were prepared for light and electron microscopy. A morphometric analysis was performed on hair cells, spiral ganglion cells, dendritic fibers in the osseous spiral lamina, afferent and efferent endings, and afferent synaptic contacts. In the ear with Meniere's disease, we found hair cell damage, including disruption of the cuticular bodies and basalward displacement of some outer hair cells. There was no significant difference in the number of hair cells or spiral ganglion cells on the two sides. There was a significant decrease, however, in the number of afferent nerve endings and afferent synapses at the base of both inner and outer hair cells in the ear with Meniere's disease as compared to the contralateral ear.