Cochlear vascular histology in animals exposed to noise.

The regularly occurring cochlear vessels in the external wall and spiral lamina were studied in the guinea pig and chinchilla following exposure to various types and durations of noise. A soft-surface specimen technique with or without injection of a contrast medium into the vascular system was used, and the occurrence of specified vascular parameters was assessed using phase-contrast microscopy. Noise does not seem to result in any extraordinary vascular pathology, but a slight, overall decreased blood supply to the cochlea and localized changes depending on cochlear turn are suggested.