K, Cl, and H2O entry in endolymph, perilymph, and cerebrospinal fluid of the rat.

The kinetics of radioactive potassium, chloride, and water entry into endolymph, perilymph, and cerebrospinal fluid were studied after intravenous administration of tracers in anesthetized and nephrectomized rats. Samples of cochlear endolymph, perilymph of scala vestibuli, perilymph of scala tympani, and cisternal cerebrospinal fluid were obtained. The data showed: 1) a rapid turnover of water in endolymph, perilymph, and cerebrospinal fluid, since 3H2O equilibrated with plasma in a few minutes; 2) a slow entry of 42K and 36Cl in perilymph, since 36Cl equilibrated with plasma after 2 h and 42K did not at 6 h; 3) an extremely slow entry of 42K and 36Cl in endolymph, since no equilibrium with plasma was obtained within the 5 h of the experiments. The comparison of the compartmental analysis of our data with the results of other studies using perilymphatic perfusion of tracers indicated that perilymph rather than plasma may be considered as the precursor of endolymph.