The Site of Involvement of Hypertension within the Cochlea:A Comparative Study of Normotensive and Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Abstract

The function and morphology of the cochlea of the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) were examined and compared with the age-paired normotensive Wistar Kyoto rat (WKY). Electro- cochleographic study revealed that the function of the cochlea in the SHR declined with increasing age to a greater extent than that of WKY. Electronmicroscopic study revealed that the primary site of the cochlear deterioration of the SHR was the vascular stria, followed by the organ of Corti. Some hypotheses to explain this phenomenon are proposed for further study.

Audiometric pattern as a predictor of cardiovascular status: Development of a model for assessment of risk

“…These rats begin to show elevations in systolic blood pressure at 3 months of age, associated with degeneration in the stria vascularis and elevation in auditory thresholds. [33][34][35] The organ of Corti meanwhile appears to be spared from hypertensive insult. These studies have demonstrated age-related hearing loss in the hypertensive rat beyond that seen in normotensive controls.…”

Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials in Patients With Ischemic Heart Disease

“…This suggests that several tissues behave as end‐organs in small vessel disease. Of these, the retina, heart, kidneys, lungs, and cochlea have been identified thus far 8‐10 …”

Hypertension is associated with dysfunction of both peripheral and central auditory system

“…T he negative influence of hypertension on the peripheral, cochlear part of the hearing system is well documented [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. However, little is known about the central auditory function in patients with hypertension.…”