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Vestibular Nerve Neurectomy: Functional and Histopathological Outcomes
in the Cochlea of Guinea Pigs
Abstract
BACKGROUND:There is a specific pathway named vestibulo-cochlear pathway
runs through the inferior vestibular nerve to cochlea. vestibular
neurectomy (V.N) is a well established procedure that is performed to
control intractable Meniere disease. However, the function and the
histopathological changes of the cochlea that could be occurred after
vestibular neurectomy were not fully studied. OBJECTIVE:Experimentally
test the effect of vestibular nerve neurectomy on the function and
histopathology of the cochlea. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES: The study was
conducted on 20 normal male adult pigmented guinea pigs (Cavia
porcellus). First, each animal was tested with Distortion Product
Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAEs) preoperatively then vestibular neurectomy
(V.N) was performed on the right side through suboccipital modified
retrosigmoid approach. We tested the DPOAEs postoperatively; After 8
weeks, Guinea pigs were euthanized the cochlea of guinea pig was
processed for light microscope and transmission electron microscope
examination to observe the outer hair cell count, and spiral ganglion
cell density in the operated ear compared to contralateral non operated
cochlea of the same guinea pig. RESULTS:There was a significant decrease
in spiral ganglion cell density in the operated side compared to the
non-operated side. However, there was no significant difference in outer
hair cell count or DPOAEs between the two sides, except for a
significant increase in DPOAEs at 2 KHz in the operated side.
CONCLUSIONS:The results suggest that vestibular neurectomy may affect
spiral ganglion cell density but not necessarily outer hair cell count
or DPOAEs, and the relationship between these variables is complex and
could be frequency-depende