title: Expression of S-100 protein in the human fetal inner ear.
abstract: The expression of S-100 protein was analyzed in the human fetal inner ear using immunohistochemical methods. In the 11-week-old human fetus, the cochlea was almost negative for S-100 protein, whereas in the 14- and 15-week-old fetuses, the spiral ligament, Reissner's membrane and spiral limbus were positive for the protein. These results suggest that S-100 protein may be a reliable marker for determining functional maturation of the fetal cochlea and the inner ear. In the 11-, 14- and 15-week fetuses, the epithelial cells of the endolymphatic sac were labelled with S-100 protein. These findings demonstrate that the endolymphatic sac, spiral limbus and spiral ligament in the fetal inner ear have a high activity of S-100 protein, with this presence possibly related to fluid and ion transport of endolymph.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bagger-Sjöbäck
mesh_terms: D003051:Cochlea / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D004712:Endolymphatic Sac / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D005333:Fetus; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D006801:Humans; D009925:Organ of Corti / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D017293:Protein S / Q000032:analysis*; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology
chemical_list: D017293:Protein S