Modified paraffin-embedding method for the human cochlea that reveals a fine morphology and excellent immunostaining results.
CONCLUSIONS
A modified paraffin-embedding method could be applied to histopathological and immunohistochemical studies of the human cochlea. The complementary use of molecular and immunohistochemical techniques by means of this method is thus considered to be a valuable tool for the future study of the human inner ear.


OBJECTIVE
To propose a new paraffin-embedding method for the morphological and immunohistochemical study of the human cochlea.


METHODS
Five human temporal bones were harvested at autopsy. The temporal bone specimens were fixed in 20% buffered formalin, decalcified with EDTA, cropped to a cube of approximately 15 mm, embedded in paraffin, and then cut into 6 microm thick sections. The sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and immunostained with anti-prestin and anti-neurofilament antibodies.


RESULTS
Although paraffin-embedded sections cannot show the excellent morphology of the delicate membranous labyrinth obtained with celloidin, this technique successfully preserved the morphology of the cochlea, especially the organ of Corti, thereby enabling us to obtain excellent immunostaining results.
Takahashi
Masatoki
M
Department of Otolaryngology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan. masat.oto@tmd.ac.jp <masat.oto@tmd.ac.jp>
Kimura
Yurika
Y
Sawabe
Motoji
M
Kitamura
Ken
K
D003051:Cochlea / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000648:ultrastructure