Quantitative Analysis of Acid Mucopolysaccharides in the Normal Guinea Pig Cochlea

Abstract

The turbidimetric method based on the formation of insoluble complexes between acid mucopolysac-charides and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide was modified for micro-analysis. The distribution of acid mucopolysaccharides in the membranous cochlea of the guinea pig was measured using this technique combined with enzymic analysis. Both the tectorial membrane and Reissner's membrane contained 0.1% of acid mucopolysaccharides per dry weight. Both the stria vascularis with spiral ligament and the basal membrane with the organ of Corti and limbus spiralis contained about 0.6%. The mean dry weight of different parts of the membranous cochleae was obtained for reference by the use of a quartz helical balance. The tectorial membrane weighed 4.6 μg per cochlea.