Autoregulation of cochlear blood flow.

We reviewed papers written about autoregulation of cochlear blood flow (CBF). In animals, autoregulation of CBF has been recognized not only by variations of systemic blood pressure (BP) but also by manipulations to the blood vessels, such as occlusion of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery, occlusion of the draining veins from the cochlea, and variations of the inner ear pressure. Recent reports have shown that autoregulation of CBF is not so different from that of cerebral blood flow in its strength, but it is disturbed in endolymphatic hydrops or aged animals. Since it became possible to measure CBF in humans, clinical investigation about autoregulation of CBF needs to be done in various inner ear diseases.