Cochlear pathology following exposure to mercury.

The sensory and secretory epithelia may become morphologically changed following the exposure to mercury chloride. The earliest and most sever change in the sensory epithelium appeared in the apical part of the cochlea, while the basal coils were only seldom damaged (cytocochleogram studies). Acute intoxication mostly affected both afferent and efferent nerve terminals and the hair cells, while chronic poisoning could also damage the stria vascularis.