Abstract
Background Distention of Reissner’s membrane in endolymphatic hydrops is a classical otopathologic
finding in cases of Meniere’s disease. A recent double hit analysis raised the possibility
that the variability in the distensile behavior in Reissner’s membrane may contribute
to the vagaries of membrane pathology encountered in this disease. Such distensile
variability is suspected to stem from the viscoelastoplastic behavior of the type
IV collagen in Reissner’s basement membrane.
Objective To analyze the known distensile characteristics of Reissner’s membrane for evidence
of viscoelastoplastic behavior.
Methods Extant data on human Reissner’s membrane were analyzed for distensile characteristics.
These features were then compared to the known characteristics of viscoelastoplasticity
as manifested by polymers in general as well as a variety of collagenous tissues.
These tissues included a synthetic collagen membrane as well as selected mammalian
tissues.
Results The limited extant data on human Reissner’s membrane distensile behavior was found
to manifest sigmoid load deformation at a lower strain rate of 0.47%/sec and a rigid
rupture pattern at a 10-fold higher strain rate of 5.5%/sec. These characteristics
were found to be similar to the general characteristics of polymer viscoelasticity,
namely a sigmoid load deformation pattern at lower strain rate that stiffens and straightens
as strain rate increases. Tensometric data from a synthetic collagen membrane and
selected mammalian tissues were found to exhibit comparable load deformation patterns.
These findings support the conclusion that human Reissner’s membrane behaves in a
viscoelastoplastic manner.
Conclusions Human Reissner’s membrane appears to exhibit viscoelastoplastic behavior comparable
to that observed in other collagenous tissues. Such variable distensile behavior provides
insight into why the degree of lesion distention before rupture in Meniere’s disease
might vary depending on the dynamics of membrane loading and the resultant rate of
membrane strain.
Keywords
balance diseases - hearing loss - inner ear conditions - Meniere's disease - otology
