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Development of morphological and physiological changes in the cochlea induced by cytomegalovirus
Author(s) -
Keithley Elizabeth M.,
Woolf Nigel K.,
Harris Jeffrey P.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-198904000-00010
Subject(s) - cochlea , cytomegalovirus , histopathology , virus , inoculation , biology , inflammation , pathology , hair cell , virology , medicine , immunology , anatomy , herpesviridae , viral disease
The effect of viral infection in the cochlea was investigated by inoculation of live cytomegalovirus or inactivated virus. Auditory thresholds were measured on the day of inoculation and on the terminal day. Two to 8 days following inoculation, the animals were killed and the cochleae were evaluated histologically. The compound nerve potential showed an increase in threshold prior to the cochlear microphonic, indicating the nerve was affected prior to the outer hair cells. All experimental cochleas contained inflammatory and cytomegalic inclusion cells and showed degenerative changes. The number of infected cells was small relative to the histopathology. Control cochleae had normal structure and function. The degeneration, therefore, might be mediated by inflammation as well as by the cytopathic effect of the virus. Viral infections, therefore, might be better managed with anti‐inflammatory therapy in addition to antiviral agents.