Magnetic resonance imaging of the membranous labyrinth during in vivo gadolinium (Gd-DTPA-BMA) uptake in the normal and lesioned cochlea.

MRI with a T1 contrast agent was used to investigate the normal and noise-damaged cochlea. The time course and distribution of the in vivo uptake of the gadodiamide chelate bound paramagnetic Gd ion (GdDTPA-BMA) throughout the membranous labyrinth of normal and impulse noise-damaged guinea pig cochleae were measured by MRI at 4.7T. Simultaneous signal enhancement of the basal, medial and apical scala tympani (ST) and scala vestibuli (SV) was observed within 10 min following i.v. injection, reaching maximum levels at around 100 min. ANOVA and post hoc paired t-tests showed statistically significant differences in the levels and rates of Gd uptake-enhancement between the scalae. The ST revealed the most rapid and extensive enhancement throughout the period of active Gd uptake, while the SV showed comparatively slower and less enhancement, and the intact scala media (SM) indicated insignificant enhancement. The in vivo Gd penetration and enhancement of the membranous SM increased significantly in the noise-damaged cochlea, suggesting lesioning of the cochlear membranes.