Scanning electron microscopy and immunoglobulins of the endolymphatic sac in Menière's disease.

SEM and immunoglobulin staining of the intradural portion of the endolymphatic sac (ES) were investigated. All 15 normal subjects, from fetuses to an 80-year-old adult, showed well arranged epithelial cells. In Menière's disease (all 15 patients) the ES showed various types degeneration of the epithelial cells. Inner ear deafness experimentally produced by kanamycin injection showed a similar degeneration of the ES. IgG of the ES in Menière's disease showed moderately evident deposits compared with normal subjects. However, these findings were also found to the same degree as IgG deposits in animal deafness produced by KM injection. From the above results it can reasonably be concluded that the degenerated findings of the ES and deposits of the IgG in Menière's disease may possibly be the result of cochlear deafness.