Reversibility of the endolymphatic potential after transient anoxia.

The effect of transient local anoxia (10 to 120 min) upon the endolymphatic potential (abbr. EP) was observed in 30 normal guinea pigs. The recovery of the EP was complete in the animal subjected to 10 min anoxia and almost complete in 20 min anoxia. When the duration of anoxia was 30 min or longer, the recovery of the potential was incomplete, and the longer the duration of anoxia, the lower the level of the EP after reoxygenation. These results were discussed in relation to the possible role of a transient anoxia upon sudden deafness.