title: Immunoelectron microscopy of the human inner ear.
abstract: The immediate fixation required for satisfactory morphologic preservation of the human inner ear has not only limited the ultrastructural study of this region, but has also limited the application of immunohistochemistry. The technique of postembedding protein A-colloidal gold immunoelectron microscopy was used on human inner ear tissue taken at operation and on celloidin-embedded temporal bone sections from a traditional temporal bone bank. We describe the utility of postembedding immunoelectron microscopy for studying the localization of a wide variety of antigens including type I collagen, S-100, and calcitonin gene-related peptide. The use of this method in material available in temporal bone banks or that has been routinely processed for transmission electron microscopy provides the potential for broad application to collections of otologic material.
authors.affiliation: Victor Goodhill Ear Center, Division of Head and Neck Surgery, UCLA Medical Center.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Wackym
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Micevych
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D008267:Acoustic Maculae / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000032:analysis; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D003101:Collodion; D003102:Colloids; D004712:Endolymphatic Sac / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004848:Epithelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006046:Gold; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012444:Saccule and Utricle / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; D009418:S100 Proteins; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A; D006046:Gold; D003101:Collodion; D003094:Collagen; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide