ASIALO GM(1)-POSITIVE CELLS IN MOUSE COCHLEA

The presence of ganglio-N-tetraosylceramide (asialo GM(1))-positive ce lls in mouse cochlea was tested for using an immunohistochemical metho d with an anti-asialo GM(1) antibody which reacts with natural killer cells and macrophages in mouse. Only a few asialo GM(1)-positive cells were present on the surface of the scala tympani of the basal turn ne ar the collecting venules. Transmission electron microscopic study sho wed the internal structure of these cells to be that of macrophages. T hese findings suggest that asialo GM(1)-positive cells function as res ident type macrophages against invasion by pathogens of the mouse coch lea.