Biochemical Properties of Inner Ear Fluids: Methods of Microchemistry and Fluid Withdrawal

摘要

Biochemical assay of fluids of the inner ear is pertinent to understanding mechanisms of electrical current generation by living tissue and could elucidate the physiology of acoustic trauma. Quantity of fluid available is limited to a few microliters per sample. A method is presented for collecting fluids from the cochlea while simultaneously measuring DC electrical potentials to identify endolymph. Ultra-micro biochemical and enzyme analyses were developed with adaptations in equipment and procedure. Techniques for assay of sodium, potassium, chloride, sugar, protein, adenosine triphosphate, hexokinase, phosphocreatine, diphosphopyridine nucleotide, lactic dehydrogenase, malic dehydrogenase and adenosine diphosphate in sample volumes of 1-2 microliters are outlined. Data on sodium, potassium, chloride and protein content of endolymph and perilymph agreed with results obtained by other investigators. Sugar averaged 117 mg/100 ml in perilymph and 183 mg/100 ml in endolymph. The enzyme compounds, investigated only in perilymph, were not detectable by these methods on 1 microliters samples. (Author)