An Electrophysiological Study of the Effects of Acute Methylmercury Chloride Exposure on the Function of the Guinea Pig Cochlea

Abstract

The inner ear function of methylmercury chloride (MMC)-exposed guinea-pigs was examined in this study. Previous studies which investigated the function of the eighth cranial nerve and Corti-organ using cochlear microphonics (CM), compound action potential (CAP) and measurement of endocochlear potential (EP) reported ototoxicity following experimental exposure to MMC. In this report, the effect of MMC on the cochlea and the eighth cranial nerve were investigated systematically by measuring CM, action potential (AP), EP and K⁺ ion concentration of the endolymph. Guinea-pigs were injected with 5 mg/kg MMC (using 0.2% solution) twice a week for 1-3 weeks. The maximum output voltage of AP was decreased by injection of MMC (5 mg/kg × 6). A decrease in the CM maximum output voltage and the elevation of CM pseudothreshold was seen after MMC injection. Changes in EP during 3 min anoxia were observed, especially a decrease in the absolute value of the negative potential. The endolymph K⁺ ion concentration remained unchanged. These findings indicate that the diffusion potentials decreased and at the same time was reduced the maximum output voltage in CM induced by MMC injection (5 mg/kg × 6) in this experiment.

Key Words:

• methylmercury
• cochlear microphonics
• compound action potential
• endocochlear potential
• K⁺ ion