Basal Lamina Pathology of the Utricle and Endolymphatic Duct in Ménière’s Disease

Abstract

Labyrinthectomy was performed in a patient with a 4-year history of Ménière’s disease. The utricle and the proximal portion of the endolymphatic duct were studied using light and electron microscopy. The epithelium varied in height from squamöus to columnar. The basal lamina lining the columnar epithelial cells showed marked thickening which was visible in the light microscope. Electron microscopy revealed that the basal lamina had a fibrillar structure. The basal lamina of adjacent blood vessels also showed pathologic thickening with similar fibrillar texture. The significance of basal lamina thickening in association with Ménière’s disease is discussed.

Focal Degeneration of Vestibular Neuroepithelium in the Cristae Ampullares of Three Human Subjects

“…Some of the findings in these subject cases are similar to the increase in thickness of the basement membrane of the vestibular end organs described in Meniere’s disease (14), in the utricle from a patient with Meniere’s disease (15), and in the endolymphatic sac in a Meniere’s patient (16). In the report by McCall et al (14), there were other similarities including a monolayer of degenerated neuroepithelium associated with thickening of the basement membrane.…”