Abstract
The inner ear vasculature is responsible for maintenance of the blood-labyrinth barrier,
transport of systemic hormones for ion homeostasis, and supplying nutrients for metabolic
functions. Unfortunately, these blood vessels also expose the ear to circulating inflammatory
factors resulting from systemic diseases. Thus, although the inner ear blood vessels
are critical for normal function, they also facilitate pathological mechanisms that
result in hearing and vestibular dysfunction. Despite these numerous critical roles
of inner ear vasculature, little is known of its normal homeostatic functions and
how these are compromised in disease. The objective of this review is to discuss the
current concepts of vascular biology, how blood vessels naturally respond to circulating
inflammatory factors, and how such mechanisms of vascular pathophysiology may cause
hearing loss.
Keywords
blood-labyrinth barrier - blood vessels - glycocalyx - immunopathology - hearing loss
