The Supporting Structures and the Intercellular Junctions in the Semicircular Canal of th Guinea Pig

抄録

The supporting structures in the semicircular canal of the guinea pig were investigated by using several methods as follows: transmission and scanning electron microscopy, high-voltage transmission electron microscopy and immunoelectronmicroscopy. The membranous semicircular canal formed a monolayer of epithelial cells. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy showed that numerous microfibrils, fibroblasts and their cytoplasmic processes were distributed in the perilymphatic space known as the mesh-like structures. The cytoplasmic processes were connected with each other interdigitatedly. These findings suggest that the membranous semicircular canal is supported by meshlike structures from the bony labyrinth with moderate elasticity. Immunocytochemical study revealed that microfibrils of the subepithelial connective tissues were type II collagen. Freeze-fracture study was also done in order to examine the intercellular junctions of crista ampullaris. The obtained results indicated that the tight junction of the sensory epithelium was a “very tight” type and that of the transitional and dark cells was an “intermediate to tight” type.