Damage to Reissner's membrane in the guinea-pig cochlea following acute atoxyl intoxication.

The ototoxic effects of the arsenic compound atoxyl has been earlier demonstrated by Anniko & Wersäll (1975) in the stria vascularis of the guinea pig cochlea. The aim of the present investigation was to study the morphological degeneration at the ultrastructural level after damaging the Reissner's membrane experimentally. In acute atoxyl intoxication the first signs of degeneration appear after approximately 12 hours. After 24 hours, the membrane may be markedly degenerated. Both the epithelial and mesothelial cells become vacuolized, the mitochondria lose their internal structure and become swollen, and lipid granules are found in the cytoplasm. Mesothelial cells are damaged to a lesser extent than the epithelial cells in the same specimen.