The anterior inferior cerebellar arterial network supplying the rat cochlea and its role in autoregulation of cochlear blood flow

Summary The sensitivity of the cochlea is dependent upon maintenance of a delicate homeostatic environment. One mechanism which participates in providing this environment is the autoregulation of cochlear blood flow. This autoregulation is ensured through the interaction of sympathetic, peptidergic and hemodynamic mechanisms. The current study demonstrates an adaptation that also participates in cochlear blood flow autoregulation. Specifically, an anterior inferior cerebellar arterial network is described and the relative contributions of each of its vessels to total cochlear blood flow is measured using laser Doppler flowmetry. The results show that each collateral vessel contributes to the blood supply of the cochlea and that reperfusion is accompanied by hyperemia. These findings suggest an adaptation that provides stable blood flow through redundancy and compensatory potential. Additionally, these observations have implications for experimental models of ischemia.