Perilymphatic Communication Routes in Guinea Pig Cochlea: An Experimental Autoradiographic Study

Abstract

Following injection of inulin-methoxy-H 3 into the scala tympani of the guinea pig, we observed the following: Accumulated inulin was clearly present not only in the hababenula perforata and basilar membrane, but also in "cortilymph spaces," suggesting communication routes between the scala tympani and "cortilymph spaces" through these structures. The presence of inulin in the intercellular spaces of Claudius' cells, Hensen's cells, the reticular lamina, and inner sulcus cells, and the absence of inulin on the surfaces of these epithelial cells of the scala media indicate that the epithelial cells, with the zonula occludens in their intercellular spaces, separate the endolymphatic space (including the inner sulcus space) from the scala tympani. The presence of large amounts of inulin in the spiral ligament, spiral prominens, and spiral limbus suggest that these structures are "perilymphatic tissue."