Tannic acid staining of the cell coat of the organ of Corti

doi:10.1016/0378-5955(86)90022-5

Hearing Research

Volume 24, Issue 3, 1986, Pages 237-241

https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-5955(86)90022-5 Get rights and content

Abstract

Tannic acid staining of the cell coat of the organ of Corti shows a deep asymmetry between the endo- and the perilymphatic surfaces, the former being 6 times thicker. This fact may be related to a barrier mechanism against potassium-induced cell damage. Horizontal cross-links between stereocilia were heavily stained, but vertical ones were not preserved, thus suggesting they are not glycoconjugates.

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Cross-links between stereocilia in the guinea pig cochlea
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Cited by (33)

Electrostatic interaction between stereocilia: I. Its role in supporting the structure of the hair bundle
2000, Hearing Research
This paper provides theoretical estimates for the forces of electrostatic interaction between adjacent stereocilia in auditory and vestibular hair cells. Estimates are given for parameters within the measured physiological range using constraints appropriate for the known geometry of the hair bundle. Stereocilia are assumed to possess an extended, negatively charged surface coat, the glycocalyx. Different charge distribution profiles within the glycocalyx are analysed. It is shown that charged glycocalices on the apical surface of the hair cells can support spatial separation between adjacent stereocilia in the hair bundles through electrostatic repulsion between stereocilia. The charge density profile within the glycocalyx is a crucial parameter. In fact, attraction instead of repulsion between adjacent stereocilia will be observed if the charge of the glycocalyx is concentrated near the membrane of the stereocilia, thereby making this type of charge distribution unlikely. The forces of electrostatic interaction between stereocilia may influence the mechanical properties of the hair bundle and, being strongly non-linear, contribute to the non-linear phenomena that have been recorded from the periphery of the auditory and vestibular systems.
Histochemistry of Glycoconjugates of the Auditory Receptor-Functional Implications
1997, Progress in Histochemistry and Cytochemistry
Carbohydrate distribution in the living utricular macula of the guinea pig detected by lectins
1995, Hearing Research
Carbohydrate distribution in the fresh utricular macula of the guinea pig was analysed using lectins such as Concanavalin A (ConA), Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), peanut agglutinin (PNA), soybean agglutinin (SBA), Ulex europeus agglutinin (UEA-I) and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy. The ciliary bundle was strongly reactive to ConA, PNA, SBA and WGA but not to DBA and UEA-I, showing that the ciliary bundle has abundant d-galactose (Gal), N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (GlcNac), d-mannose (Man) and sialic acid(s) (Sia) but not detectable amounts of l-fucose (Fuc) and terminal N-acetyl-d-galactosamine (GalNAc). Similar patterns of lectin bindings with moderate-to-weak intensities were observed on the non-cilial apical surface, on the surface of the otoconia and in the gelatinous layer of the otoconial membrane. On the contrary, the globular substance, a precursor of the otoconia, was scarcely reactive to any lectin examined, implying that it lacks glycoconjugates on its surface. Previous histochemical studies reported that the otoconial membrane possesses a much higher affinity for lectins than does the sensory epithelium (including the cilia) in the vestibular organ. This discrepancy suggests that factors in the preparation process may affect the otoconial membrane or the surface coat of the cilia to change their lectin affinity. Meanwhile, sialidase treatment augmented the affinity of the ciliary bundle for DBA and PNA, indicating that sialylated GalNAc and Gal are present on the vestibular ciliary bundle.
Regional differences in lectin binding patterns of vestibular hair cells
1993, Hearing Research
Surface glycoconjugates of hair cells and supporting cells in the vestibular endorgans of the bullfrog were identified using biotinylated lectins with different carbohydrate specificities. Lectin binding in hair cells was consistent with the presence of glucose and mannose (CON A), galactose (RCA-I), N-acetylglucosamine (WGA), NA-acetylgalactosamine (VVA), but not fucose (UEA-I) residues. Hair cells in the bullfrog sacculus, unlike those in the utriculus and semicircular canals, did not stain for N-acetylglucosamine (WGA) or N-acetylgalactosamine (VVA). By contrast, WGA and, to a lesser extent, VVA, differentially stained utricular and semicircular canal hair cells, labeling hair cells located in peripheral, but not central, regions. In mammals, WGA uniformly labeled Type I hair cells while labeling, as in the bullfrog, Type II hair cells only in peripheral regions. These regional variations were retained after enzymatic digestion. We conclude that vestibular hair cells differ in their surface glycoconjugates and that differences in lectin binding patterns can be used to identify hair cell types and to infer the epithelial origin of isolated vestibular hair cells.
Glycocalyx and Ciliary Interconnections in Bullfrog Vestibular End Organs: Normal Structure and Changes After Incubation in Frog Ringer's Solution
1993, Auris Nasus Larynx
The ultrastructure of ciliary interconnecting systems as well as changes after incubation in frog Ringer's solution of the bullfrog vestibular end organs were investigated by using a scanning electron microscopy. The plasma membrane of the sensory hairs showed rather rough appearance. Side links emerged from the plasma membrane and tightly connected neighboring cilia. The tip links stretched from the tips of the stereocilia to their taller neighbors. These tip links were arranged in a same direction towards the kinocilium. These findings indicate that the side links may keep the cilia arranged in a bundle and the tip links may be involved in sensory cell transduction system. Changes in the surface texture and ciliary interconnecting systems were detected 2 hrs after incubation in frog Ringer's solution. Such changes included an increase in granularity of the surface membrane, fracturing and disappearance of all types of ciliary interconnections, especially side links. The tip links were more durable than side links. This indicates that the physiological studies of bullfrog hair bundle are justified across a 1-hr interval from the time the temporal bones are removed from the animal.
Carbohydrates associated with the cell coat surrounding cells of the rainbow trout saccular macula as revealed by lectin probes
1991, Hearing Research
The luminal surface of the saccular macula in the rainbow trout is covered with a glycoconjugate-rich cell coat. The aim of this study was to identify specific carbohydrate moieties present in this coat, using biotinylated lectins as probes. Saccular tissues were fixed in Karnovsky's fixative for 2 h at 1–2°C, followed by incubation with biotinylated lectins for 12–16 h at 25°C. Lectin binding was visualized by performing avidin-biotin-peroxidase reactions. As controls, specimens were reacted with solutions of lectins preincubated with their specific inhibitory sugars. Staining was observed that was consistent with the presence of glucose, galactose, fucose, mannose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylneuraminic acid, and N-acetylgalactosamine in the cell coat. The variability in the intensity of staining associated with the lectin-carbohydrate complexes suggests quantitative differences among the various carbohydrate moieties detected. The presence of these carbohydrates in the cell coat of the trout saccular macula also suggests biochemical similarities between cell coats in teleost and mammalian inner ear structures.

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Abstract

References (27)

Ultrastructural study of the muscle cell surface

J. Ultrastruct. Res.

Cross-links between stereocilia in the guinea pig cochlea

Hear. Res.

Observations on axonemes and membranes of olfactory and respiratory cilia in frogs and rats using tannic acid-supplemented fixation and photographic rotation

J. Ultrastruct. Res.

Recent advances in cochlear physiology

Prog. Neurobiol.

Cross-links between stereocilia in the guinea pig organ of Corti, and their possible relation to sensory transduction

Hear. Res.

The cell coat of inner ear sensory and supporting cells as demonstrated by ruthenium red

Hear. Res.

Tannic acid tracer analysis of permeability pathways in the capillaries of the Rete Mirabile: demonstration of the discreteness of endothelial vesicles

J. Ultrastruct. Res.

The sensory hairs and tectorial membrane of the basilar papilla in the lizard Calotes versicolor

J. Neurocytol.

Histochemical and ultrastructural characterization of subendothelial glycoprotein microfibrils interacting with platelets

J. Histochem. Cytochem.

Osmium tetroxide postfixation in relation to the crosslinkage and spatial organization of stereocilia in the guinea pig cochlea

J. Neurocytol.

On the mechanism of the Maniere attack

Arch. Otol-Rhinol-Laryngol.

A new fixation method using tannic acid for electron microscopy and some observations on biological specimens

Cited by (33)

Electrostatic interaction between stereocilia: I. Its role in supporting the structure of the hair bundle

Histochemistry of Glycoconjugates of the Auditory Receptor-Functional Implications

Carbohydrate distribution in the living utricular macula of the guinea pig detected by lectins

Regional differences in lectin binding patterns of vestibular hair cells

Glycocalyx and Ciliary Interconnections in Bullfrog Vestibular End Organs: Normal Structure and Changes After Incubation in Frog Ringer's Solution

Carbohydrates associated with the cell coat surrounding cells of the rainbow trout saccular macula as revealed by lectin probes