Epithelial cell surface morphology in the endolymphatic sac: a scanning electron microscopic study in the mouse.
The apical, lateral and basal surface structures of the epithelial cells in the murine endolymphatic sac were studied using the freeze-cracking technique and scanning electron microscopy. In this way, it was possible to visualize the luminal surface and the interior of the cell simultaneously. The light epithelial cells, with their smooth rounded nuclei and many mitochondria, had numerous microvilli on their apical cell surface, whereas the dark epithelial cells, with indented nuclei, had only a few such microvilli. The lateral surfaces of these cells were flat, with few projections facing a dilated lateral intercellular space.
Department of Otolaryngology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska Sjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.
M
M
Takumida
D
D
Bagger-Sjöbäck
H
H
Rask-Andersen
Y
Y
Harada
D000818:Animals; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000166:cytology*; D004712:Endolymphatic Sac / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning