An Animal Model of Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease: A Histopathological Study of the Inner Ear in Type

II Collagen-induced Autoimmune Rats

Abstract

Autoimmune inner ear lesions were induced in SD rats by immunizing them with native type II collagen. All immunized animals had high levels of antibodies to native type II collagen. The histopathological changes observed in the inner ear of immunized animals included mild extension of Reissner's membrane (22%), atrophied organ of Corti (22%) and spiral ganglion cell degeneration (35%). These findings suggest that immune responces directed against type II collagen can induce inner ear disorders.