Abstract
The effect of glycerol on the cochlear blood flow (CBF) and perilymphatic pressure (PP) was studied in guinea pigs. CBF and PP were measured simultaneously with a laser-doppler flowmeter and a servo-nulling system, respectively. Administration of 12 ml/kg of 50% glycerol or of physiological saline was carried out through a polyethylene feeding tube. Glycerol administration caused a marked increase of CBF and decrease of PP, while physiological saline produced no change. However, some time lag was noted between the changes of CBF and PP. That is, the change of CBF preceded that of PP, and CBF had returned to its normal value when PP reached its maximum Therefore, the increase of CBF seems to be unrelated to an increase in serum glycerol or a decrease of inner ear pressure.
