Abstract
The purpose of the present experiment was to clarify the pressure reducing role of the vestibular and cochlear aqueducts. In experiments with guinea pigs, changes in firing rates were seen in 31% of Scarpa's ganglion neurons when a positive pressure chage was applied to the middle ear. Such changes were observed in only 8% of the neurons when a negative pressure change was applied (control group). Results similar to those of the control group were obtained in guinea pigs with obstructed vestibular aueducts. Guinea pigs with obstructed cochlear aqueducts, however, showed neural response rates significantly higher than those of the control group.
