Abstract
Autoimmunity to type II collagen has been found in human diseases such as relapsing polychondritis, otosclerosis and Meniere's disease. Several animals sensitized with type II collagen developed the pathological lesions in the ear, similar to those seen in the above disease. We examined anatomical distribution of type II collagen in the ear immunohistochemically by using monoclonal antibody to type II collagen. Type II collagen was located in the following areas. In the External and Middle ear; auricular and external auditory canal cartilage, tympanic membrane (lamina propria), tympanic annulus, interossicular joints, stapes footplate, fissure ante fenestram, eustachian tubal cartilage. In the Inner ear, Cochlea; globuli interossei in otic capsule, Rosenthal canal in modiolus, osseous spiral lamina, spiral ligament, limbs, tectorial membrane. Vestibule; subepithelial layer of utricular and saccular maculae, semicircular canal membrane, ampullary cristae and endolymphatic duct and proximal part of the sac.
