Chemical composition in various compartments of inner ear fluid

Summary Sodium, potassium, chloride, glucose and total protein were determined in samples of scala vestibuli perilymph, scala tympani perilymph, CSF, cochlear endolymph and utricular endolymph from normal cats. Small but significant differences were evident in the concentrations of sodium and potassium between the scala vestibuli and scala tympani perilymph. It was also apparent that each compartment of endolymph has different values for sodium and potassium concentrations. Compared with the endolymph, the perilymph was found to contain a higher concentration of glucose and total protein. These findings are discussed from the view point of biological significance.Read before the 13th Workshop on Inner Ear Biology in Düsseldorf on August 23, 1976 This work was supported by Research Grant No. ROI-NS 1026801 from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Strokes, USA