title: Differential immunohistochemical detection of cytokeratins and vimentin in the surgically removed human endolymphatic duct and sac.
abstract: Immunohistochemical detection of intermediate filament proteins and different subgroups of cytokeratins (Cks) was used to characterize the epithelium of the surgically removed adult human endolymphatic duct (ED) and sac (ES). The epithelium of the ED and ES demonstrated immunostaining for Cks 7, 8, 14, 17, 18 and 19, a pattern typical of so-called "complex" or "mixed" epithelia. This is a remarkable finding, since this pattern differs strikingly from previously reported data on the adult human cochlea and vestibular labyrinth that demonstrated a Ck pattern typical of "simple" (or single-layered) epithelia. Furthermore, the epithelium of the ED and ES demonstrated co-expression of Cks and vimentin. The present data indicate that the epithelium of the ED and ES exhibits another type of epithelial differentiation and demonstrates a higher degree of complexity than the other epithelia in the adult human inner ear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Bauwens
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: De Groot
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Ramaekers
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Linthicum
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Veldman
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Huizing
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003893:Desmin / Q000032:analysis; D004711:Endolymphatic Duct / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000601:surgery; D004712:Endolymphatic Sac / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000601:surgery; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D014746:Vimentin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D003893:Desmin; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D014746:Vimentin; D007633:Keratins