title: Distribution of KHRI 3 epitopes in the inner ear.
abstract: Murine monoclonal antibodies against cochlear structures were previously generated to obtain probes for elucidating the function of cochlear cell subsets. Preliminary immunocytochemical characterization showed that the monoclonal antibody KHRI 3 binds to supporting cells but not sensory cells in the guinea pig cochlea. We have now investigated KHRI 3 epitopes in other species and other parts of the inner ear. The KHRI 3 epitope appears to be species-specific since no immunolabeling was seen in rat inner ear nor in chick inner ear. In immunocytochemical assays in the guinea pig vestibular tissues KHRI 3 stained saccular wall cells and transitional epithelial cells in the utricle and ampules as well as clusters of cells in the endolymphatic sac. In Western blots KHRI 3 stained a broad 70-75 kDa band in lanes loaded with guinea pig cochlea homogenates--as seen previously--as well as in lanes loaded with vestibular tissue homogenates. The immunolabeling patterns suggest that KHRI 3 epitopes are cell membrane components or related to membrane structures. Thus the monoclonal antibody KHRI 3 appears to define a nonsensory cell subset in the guinea pig inner ear that can be identified by expression of KHRI 3 epitopes.
authors.affiliation: HNO-Hearing Research Laboratories, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Tübingen, FRG.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ptok
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Altschuler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003051:Cochlea / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008970:Molecular Weight; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes