Surgical Trauma to the Cochlea Results in Reversible Damage to Spiral Ganglion Type I Neurons

Abstract

Type I neurons are reversibly damaged when the cochlear bony wall is opened. The reversibility is indicated by the absence of neuronal loss, as demonstrated by quantification of the spiral ganglion neuronal population. Reversible damages included ultrastructural signs of excessive ion and water influx into the type I neuron cytoplasm, whose functional implications must be investigated in the future.

Key Words:

• cochlear innervation
• cochlear injury
• neuronal damage