title: Immunocytochemical localization of calmodulin in the vestibular end-organs of the gerbil.
abstract: This study demonstrates the presence of calmodulin in the vestibular end-organs of the gerbil by use of immunocytochemistry. Using fluorescence microscopy, calmodulin was localized to the cytoplasm, cuticular plate, and stereocilia of both type I and type II hair cells in the sensory epithelia of the utricle and cristae ampullaris; no label was found in the supporting cells, the dark cells, or the nerve fibers. There was no immunoreactive distinction between the labeling of type I and type II hair cells in the striolar or extrastriolar regions. Thus, immunocytochemical labeling for calmodulin provides a good marker for hair cells in gerbil vestibular epithelium. The presence of calmodulin in the stereocilia was confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy using secondary antibodies coupled to colloidal gold.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Yamaguchi University, School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Slepecky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002147:Calmodulin / Q000032:analysis*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005849:Gerbillinae; D018069:Hair Cells, Vestibular / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D012444:Saccule and Utricle / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D002147:Calmodulin