INNER-EAR CONTENT OF GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS AS SHOWN BY MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES

Inner ear cells are known to contain combinations of proteins and suga r, which histochemically have been identified to be proteoglycans. To visualize these components in the macula utriculi, crista ampullaris a nd in the cochlea four different monoclonal antibodies against hyaluro nan (HA), keratan sulphate (KS), chondroitin-6-sulphate (C-6-S) and ch ondroitin-4-sulphate (C-4-S) were used. The results indicate that KS i s predominantly present in the lining of the vestibular hair cells, in the otoconial layer and in nerve tissue. C-4-S is present in the sens ory hairs as well as in the subepithelial layer but also in the tector ial and basilar membranes of the cochlea. HA is generally present in t he surface area of vestibular hair cells, to some extent in the cochle ar hair cells and in the stria vascularis. C-6-S is only present to a lesser degree in the inner ear.