Effect of acetazolamide on cation concentration in the endolymph of the endolymphatic sac.

Acetazolamide (ACTZ), a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, has been reported to decrease the endolymphatic sac (ES) DC potential (ESP) in the guinea pig. To assess the involvement of cation transport in the ESP change by ACTZ we examined the effect of ACTZ upon the K+ and Na+ activities of the ES endolymph in the guinea pig using ion-sensitive microelectrode. ACTZ (10 mg/kg), a dose that produces the ESP maximum reduction, produced a significant increase in Na+ activity of the ES endolymph with no change in K+ activity. The results suggest that Na+ transport may be directly or indirectly involved in ESP reduction by ACTZ, and that a Na(+)-H+ exchanger may be involved in Na+ influx pathway from endolymph to the ES epithelial cells.