High-resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Inner Ear

Introduction

This 3-D image of the fluid spaces of the guinea pig cochlea was derived from high-resolution MR images. The extracted 3-D representations are used to quantify the total volume and length of each space, and to quantify how the cross-sectional area of the space varies with distance.

These data provide the foundation for mathematical models which simulate the movements of drugs or other solutes in the cochlear fluid spaces. By quantifying drug movements in experimental animals, we can use our computer models to predict how drugs spread in the human cochlea, which is considerably larger. This will allow diseases of the human ear to be treated more effectively.

The images also provide a better understanding of the intricate geometry of the structures. These 3-D relationships are not always apparent in conventional histological views of the inner ear

 

The people and groups involved in this project:

Washington University, St. Louis	Alec N. Salt
	John E. DeMott
	Adam Ghiz (Summer 1999)
	Marc Thorne (Summer 1998)
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill	Miriam Henson
	O'Dell Henson
Center for in Vivo Microscopy Duke University, Durham	A Johnson
	Sally Gewalt

This work is supported by research grant DC01368 from the National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) at the National Institutes of Health.

Publications

Thorne, M., Salt, A.N., DeMott, J.E., Henson, M.M., Henson, O.W.jr.and Gewalt, S.L.: Cochlear fluid space dimensions for six species derived from reconstructions of 3-D magnetic resonance images. Laryngoscope (in press, 1999)

Salt, A.N., Henson, M.M., Gewalt, S.L., Keating, A.W., DeMott, J.E. and Henson, O.W.: Detection and quantification of endolymphatic hydrops in the guinea pig cochlea by magnetic resonance microscopy. Hearing Research 88: 79-86, 1995.

Page generated by: Alec N. Salt, Ph.D.,
Cochlear Fluids Research Laboratory,
Washington University, St. Louis