The effect of anti-diuretic hormone on the endolymphatic sac of the inner ear

Abstract

 The anti-diuretic hormone vasopressin (AVP) regulates water excretion from the kidney by increasing the water permeability of the collecting duct. AVP binds to V₂-receptors and induces the translocation of aquaporin-2 water channels (AQP-2) into the apical plasma membrane of principal cells. By this mechanism AVP controls water reabsorption in the kidney. The effects of AVP on the endolymphatic sac (ES) of the inner ear, which is thought to mediate reabsorption of endolymph, were investigated. Both the V₂-receptor and the AQP-2 water channel were found to be expressed in the ES epithelium. In the ES AVP binds to receptors most probably of the V₂-subtype. Application of AVP to organotypically cultured ES inhibits membrane turnover in ribosomal-rich cells of the ES epithelia, which is thought to mediate translocation of AQP-2 into the surface membrane. This suggests that AVP has contrasting effects in the inner ear and kidney, which may be physiologically useful for maintaining endolymphatic pressure during severe hypovolemia. Animal experiments show that AVP causes endolymphatic hydrops after systemic application to guinea-pigs, which suggests a causal role for the increased AVP levels found in humans suffering from Ménière’s disease.