A potential portal flow in the inner ear.

TY - JOUR

T1 - A potential portal flow in the inner ear.

AU - Friis, Morten

AU - Qvortrup, Klaus

N1 - Keywords: Animals; Arteriovenous Anastomosis; Disease Models, Animal; Endolymph; Endolymphatic Sac; Homeostasis; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Male; Meniere Disease; Microcirculation; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Regional Blood Flow; Thrombosis; Veins; Venules; Vestibular Aqueduct; Vestibule, Labyrinth

PY - 2007

Y1 - 2007

N2 - OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of the present study was to visualize the flow direction of blood in the extraosseous part of the vein of the vestibular aqueduct (VVA) and to explore the effect of an induced obstruction in the distal part of the VVA before it merges with the sigmoid sinus. The endolymphatic sac has been implicated as a potential endocrine gland, which venules drain to the VVA. A reversal of the direction of flow in the VVA toward the inner ear could, through vestibular arteriovenous anastomosis, cause portal circulation in the inner ear. STUDY DESIGN: The authors conducted an experimental animal study using in vivo fluorescence microscopy. RESULTS: Obstructing the distal part of the VVA just before it empties into the sigmoid sinus immediately reverses the flow of blood in the VVA toward the inner ear. CONCLUSIONS: After an obstruction of the VVA, the drained venous blood from the endolymphatic sac may enter a portal circulation in the inner ear, which could cause disturbances in the endolymph homeostasis and potentially symptoms as seen in Meniere disease.

AB - OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of the present study was to visualize the flow direction of blood in the extraosseous part of the vein of the vestibular aqueduct (VVA) and to explore the effect of an induced obstruction in the distal part of the VVA before it merges with the sigmoid sinus. The endolymphatic sac has been implicated as a potential endocrine gland, which venules drain to the VVA. A reversal of the direction of flow in the VVA toward the inner ear could, through vestibular arteriovenous anastomosis, cause portal circulation in the inner ear. STUDY DESIGN: The authors conducted an experimental animal study using in vivo fluorescence microscopy. RESULTS: Obstructing the distal part of the VVA just before it empties into the sigmoid sinus immediately reverses the flow of blood in the VVA toward the inner ear. CONCLUSIONS: After an obstruction of the VVA, the drained venous blood from the endolymphatic sac may enter a portal circulation in the inner ear, which could cause disturbances in the endolymph homeostasis and potentially symptoms as seen in Meniere disease.

U2 - 10.1097/mlg.0b013e31802c028d

DO - 10.1097/mlg.0b013e31802c028d

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 17204987

SN - 0023-852X

VL - 117

SP - 194

EP - 198

JO - Laryngoscope

JF - Laryngoscope

IS - 2

ER -