Long-term administration of vasopressin can cause Ménière's disease in mice.

CONCLUSION: A new murine model of Ménière's disease has been developed, based on long-term administration of vasopressin. Induction of vestibular dysfunction in the present animal model can cause additional stress, by reducing inner ear blood flow. Latanoprost, a selective agonist for the FP prostanoid receptor, may become a new remedy for Ménière's disease.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a more suitable animal model, with a closer resemblance to the pathophysiological process in Ménière's disease.

METHODS: Adult CBA/J or ICR mice were treated by subcutaneous injection of vasopressin for 5 days up to 8 weeks. Morphological analyses were performed of the cochlea, vestibular end organs and endolymphatic sac. The effect of latanoprost on the development of endolymphatic hydrops was also examined.

RESULTS: All experimental animals showed mild to moderate endolymphatic hydrops, increasing in severity as the vasopressin treatment was prolonged. Animals treated with vasopressin for 8 weeks showed severe endolymphatic hydrops with partial loss of outer hair cells and spiral ganglion cells. These animals also had a reversible vestibular dysfunction following intratympanic injection of epinephrine. Latanoprost inhibited the development of endolymphatic hydrops caused by vasopressin.