Abstract
Using 16mm color film, the radiating arterioles of the cochlea were examined in 23 guinea pigs to reveal statistical correlations between the blood flow velocity and the arterial plasma glucose level, plasma total protein and hematocrit. The guinea pigs, which had a normal Preyer's reflex, were fenestrated on the third turn on the cochlea. After filming the blood flow, the moving distance of the plasma space on the film was measured to calculate the velocity of the blood flow. The blood flow velocity of the hyperglycemic group (plasma glucose level≥200mg/dl, n=14) was significantly lower than that of the normoglycemic group (plasma glucose level<200mg/dl, n=9). Investigation of the regression lines of all the cases including 17 cases with plasma glucose levels less than 300mg/dl, indicated that higher plasma glucose levels correlate with lower blood flow velocity (r=-0.580 n=23, r=-0.814 n=17). The correlation matrix table showed a meaningful correlation (P<0.05) between the plasma glucose level and the blood flow velocity, but no significant correlation between the total protein in serum and the blood flow velocity or between the hematocrit level and the blood flow velocity. In the 17 guinea pigs having less than 300mg/dl of plasma glucose, we conducted multiple regression analysis to calculate the velocity of the blood flow from three defined variables: plasma glucose level, total protein in serum, and hematocrit. The coefficient of determination was 69%.
