Perilymph Findings in Experimentally Induced Acidosis

The sodium and potassium concentrations of serum, cerebrospinal fluid, and perilymph were measured both before and after the concentrations of these ions were altered in blood by intraperitoneal dialysis with ammonium chloride and glucose. Marked decrease in sodium concentration and elevation of potassium concentration in serum were observed following dialysis. However, there were no significant changes in the sodium and potassium content of perilymph. These results lend support to the hypothesis that the perilymph is an independent fluid and that its ionic content might be regulated through homeostatic mechanisms which are probably more complicated than the simple filtration from capillaries or inflow of cerebrospinal fluid.