EXPRESSION OF THE CARBOHYDRATE EPITOPE 3-FUCOSYL-N-ACETYL-LACTOSAMINE(CD-15) IN THE ADULT GUINEA-PIG INNER-EAR

The expression of the CD 15 (3-fucosyl-N-acetyl-lactosamin) epitope wa s immunohistochemically studied on paraffin sections of adult guinea p ig inner ears. Two regions of the inner ear expressed the epitope for CD 15: the tectorial membrane of the cochlea and the endolymphatic sac . The upper part of the main body of the tectorial membrane was deeply stained. In the rugosal and distal part of the endolymphatic sac seve ral unevenly distributed cells showed strong intra- and extracellular localization of the CD 15 epitope. The CD 15 epitope is associated wit h a transduction structure (tectorial membrane) and with a ''volume re gulating'' compartment (endolymphatic sac) and may be involved in the maintenance of the structural integrity of both.