Lack of effect of carbonic anhydrase inhibition on direct measurements of endolymph bicarbonate.

In the past, sodium, potassium, and chloride have been measured in endolymph directly, but bicarbonate has been measured only indirectly. We sampled endolymph directly while monitoring endocochlear potentials in normal and methazolamide-treated guinea pigs. Bicarbonate was determined in samples by use of a method that depends on reduction of NADH to NAD linked to malate formation from oxaloacetate. In 11 normal animals, the bicarbonate in endolymph was 20.2 mM +/- 4,4 mM (mean +/- standard deviation); in six of these, plasma bicarbonate was 23.1 mM +/- 3.5 mM. Nine animals treated with methazolamide (carbonic anhydrase inhibitor) had an endolymph bicarbonate of 19.5 mM +/- 3.9 mM; plasma bicarbonate in five of these was 25 mM +/- 3.2 mM. Carbonic anhydrase inhibition did not significantly affect endolymphatic bicarbonate levels.