Type II collagen-induced autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction in rats.

Autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss was induced in rats by immunizing them with native bovine type II collagen. Type I and denatured type II collagen, administered by an identical immunization procedure, would not induce disease. Evidence of sensorineural hearing loss was obtained by measuring the brainstem evoked potential and by observing histopathologic changes consisting of cochlear nerve degeneration and perineural vasculitis in affected animals. Immunized animals had high levels of antibodies to native type II collagen.