OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of different shear stresses on the morphological changes in cochlear microvascular endothelial cells cultured in vitro so as to enrich the mechanism of the blood-labyrinth barrier.

METHODSThe morphological photos of cochlear microvascular endothelial monolayer cells were obtained with the hydrodynamic system design and the morphological parameters such as Pyx and Q were detected.

RESULTSThrough digestion with collagenase type I, the monolayer cells of cochlear microvascular endothelial monolayer were obtained. As to cochlear microvascular endothelial cells in guinea pigs, no morphological changes of the cells were found when shear stresses of 0. 0883 Pa acting for 24 h. When shear stress was 0.1184 Pa acting for 8 h, compliant changes from former disorderliness into orderliness happened following the direction of the flowing liquid of the cellular morphology. The changing tendency was in a time-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONSCochlear microvascular endothelial cells in guinea pigs after the effect of shear stress are morphologically different from statically cultured endothelial cells. Range of the shear stress that cochlear microvascular endothelial cells can tolerate is little.