Abstract
CONGENITAL and acquired deafness and acute and chronic vertigo are often attributed to viral infections of the inner ear. Direct demonstration of natural or experimental infection of the membranous labyrinths of the cochlear and vestibular systems has not been practicable, however, because these structures are encased in the dense temporal bones. Evidence that viral infections can cause deafness and vertigo in man is based largely on epidemiological observations and on a limited number of temporal bones examined months or years after the acute event. Temporal bones from patients with deafness associated with mumps, measles, cytomegalovirus and rubella have shown a cochlear–saccular degeneration suggesting that endolymphatic structures may have been infected1–4. Except for cytomegalovirus infections, which cause characteristic histopathological changes4, there are no previous studies of acute viral infections of the inner ear in patients or experimental animals.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Lindsay, J. R., Davey, P. R., and Ward, P. H., Ann. Otol., 30, 918–935 (1960).
Lindsay, J. R., and Hemenway, W. G., Ann. Otol., 63, 754–771 (1954).
Lindsay, J. R., Caruthers, D. G., Hemenway, W. G., and Harrison, M. S., Ann. Otol., 62, 1201–1218 (1953).
Myers, E. N., and Stool, S., Laryngoscope, 78, 1904–1914 (1968).
Davis, G. L., and Strauss, M., Ann. Otol., 82, 584–593 (1973).
Sando, I., Masuda, Y., Wood, R. P., and Hemenway, W. G., Ann. Otol., 80, 826–834 (1971).
Stuart-Harris, C. H., Lancet, i, 497–499 (1939).
Kilham, L., J. Am. med. Ass., 146, 1231–1232 (1951).
Burnstein, T., Jensen, J. H., and Waksman, B. H., J. infect. Dis., 114, 265–272 (1964).
Stephens, C. B., Acta Oto-laryng. Suppl., 296, (1972).
Sainte-Marie, G., J. Histochem. Cytochem., 10, 250–256 (1962).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
DAVIS, L., SHURIN, S. & JOHNSON, R. Experimental viral labyrinthitis. Nature 254, 329–331 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/254329a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/254329a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.