Effects of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP) on the Cochlear Blood Flow in Guinea Pigs

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on the cochlear blood flow (CBF) of normal guinea pigs and of guinea pigs with experimentally induced endolymphatic hydrops. ANP was administered intravenously and the CBF was measured with a Laser-Doppler-Flowmeter. When ANP was injected for 15 minutes, the CBF of guinea pigs with hydrops induced 4 weeks previously was higher than that of those with hydrops induced 12 to 16 weeks previously. When ANP was administered in large quantities for one minute, the CBF at 10 minutes was slightly higher in hydrops induced guinea pigs than in normal guinea pigs. The mechanism in normal and in hydrops induced guinea pigs after ANP administration appears to be different.