Local Substances Regulating Cochlear Blood Flow

• Published in: Acta oto-laryngologica Vol. 118; no. 543; pp. 40 - 46
• Main Author: Konishi, Hideo Yamane, Hiroyoshi Iguchi, Masahiro Takayama, Takayuki Nakagawa, Kishiko Sunami, Yoshiaki Nakai, Kazuo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Norway Informa UK Ltd 1998; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Animals; Capillaries - chemistry; Cochlea - blood supply; Cochlea - chemistry; Cochlea - ultrastructure; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System - analysis; Histocytochemistry; Immunohistochemistry; Intramolecular Oxidoreductases - analysis; Microscopy, Electron; Microscopy, Immunoelectron; NADPH Dehydrogenase - analysis; Nitric Oxide Synthase - analysis; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Regional Blood Flow - physiology; Tropomyosin - analysis
• ISSN: 0001-6489; 0365-5237; 1651-2251
• DOI: 10.1080/930-00016489850182729

The regulation of cochlear lateral wall blood flow was investigated in rats using histochemistry, immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy. The contractile protein, tropomyosin (TM) was localized in the pericyte around the vessels of spiral ligament but little was seen around strial capillaries. Prostaglandin I 2 (PGI 2 ) is a vasodilatory substance produced by PGI 2 synthase (PGI 2 S), which is present in the endothelium of the vessels of spiral ligament but not much is present around strial capillaries. Endthelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was present in the endothelium of both the vessels of spiral ligament and strial capillaries. These findings indicate that the blood flow of the cochlear lateral wall is regulated mainly in the spiral ligament by locally produced substances and that strial blood flow is not significantly regulated by pericytes responsible for enlargement or constriction of capillaries.