Abstract
Phoshatidylinositol bisphosphate (PhIP2), which is suggested as an aminoglycosides receptor as well as regulator of ion transport, was localized in the gunea pig cochlea by protein A-gold technique. The used antibody was raised in rabbits and was very specific to PhIP2. In the organ of Corti, PhIP2 was localized mainly on the plasma membrane, mitochondria, stereocillia, microvilli, cuticular plate and synaptic membranes of the component cells. In the vascular stria PhIP2 was found mainly on the plasma membrane and mitochondria of the basal infolding of the marginal cell. In these areas PhIP2 is likely to regulate ion transport physiologycally and to exist as an aminoglycosides receptor.
