[Development of endolymphatic hydrops following immune response in the endolymphatic sac of guinea pigs--long-term observation].

We report findings for endolymphatic hydrops in specimens obtained 5 to 28 weeks after a direct challenge with secondary KLH antigen to the endolymphatic sac (ES) of guinea pigs. Following gradual disappearance of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) in the period between the 5th and 8th weeks, the inferior labyrinth EH gradually developed again from the 3rd month onward in the saccule and from the 4th month onward in the cochlea. Many lymphocytes and plasma cells infiltrated into the perisaccular space for up to 7 months. These results suggest that an immune response in the ES may ultimately induce chronic dysfunction of the ES and thereby lead to progressive EH.