In our previous paper we described that IgG antibody and its complement are present in the endolymphatic fluid and that there is a possibility that type III allergic reaction occurs even in the endolymphatic fluid. Moreover, we succeded in inducing endolymphatic hydrops experimentally in guinea pigs sensitized with rabbit's stria vascularis and complete adjuvant (Freund).
In the present study pretreatment for sensitization was made 5 times in spite of 4 times as used previously. In order to determine whether there is no difference in incidence and morphology of endolymphatic hydrops as compared to those observed in the previous study and to make clear the activation system for the complement involved in endolymphatic hydrops, the present study was conducted using C4 defficient guinea pigs (C4D guinea pigs). Endolymphatic hydrops was induced in 4 out of 10 cases (40%), with similar incidences as obtained in the previous study. However, in this study bilateral endolymphatic hydrops, which had not been observed in previous study, developed in 2 cases. Since endolymphatic hydrops was not induced in C4D guinea pigs, the main activation system of the complement in volved in endolymphatic hydrops was considered to be the classical pathway.
