Intercellular Junctions in the Organ of Corti as Revealed by Freeze Fracturing

S. Iurato Department of Bioacoustics, University of Bari, Italy

K. Franke ENT Clinic, and the University of Milan, Italy

L. Luciano Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Hannover, FRG, and the University of Milan, Italy

G. Wermbter Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Hannover, FRG, and the University of Milan, Italy

E. Pannese Second Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Milan, Italy

E. Reale Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Hannover, FRG, and the University of Milan, Italy

Abstract

The junctions between the cells of the organ of Corti have been investigated with the freeze-fracture method in the chinchilla inner ear. Numerous gap junctions have been found among all the supporting cells, particularly at the level of their basal part. This means that the supporting cells have their cytoplasm electro-tonically and metabolically coupled. Gap junctions were not observed between supporting and sensory cells nor between sensory cells and nerve endings. At this level the transmission should be chemically mediated.

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Intercellular Junctions in the Organ of Corti as Revealed by Freeze Fracturing

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Intercellular Junctions in the Organ of Corti as Revealed by Freeze Fracturing

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