An Immunohistochemical Study of Cochlear Blood-labyrinth Barrier in Mice

SAI Na; ZHANG Tong; WU Jun; HAN Weiju

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1672-2922.2018.02.015

Abstract：Objective To study morphology of the Stria vascularis and composition of the blood-labyrinth barrier (BLB)in mice by immunohistochemistry,immunofluorescence staining and confocal laser scanning microscopy,to facil-itate the study of its pathophysiology. Methods Intact stria vascularis tissue was rapidly isolated,and then labeled by im-munohistochemistry and immunofluorescence.Morphological and structural characteristics were observed by laser con-focal microscopy.Results The intact stria vascularis in mice was naturally curved and translucent reddish in color.Three layers of cells were observed by immunofluorescence staining.The marginal cell was essentially hexagon in shape with tight junction proteins linearly distributed.The basal cells were elongated and flat.The stria capillary network was sand-wiched between the marginal and basal cells, accompanied and wrapped by pericytes. Perivascular-resident macro-phages in the intermediate cells were dendritic,with their processes in close contact with microvessels.Conclusion Mar-ginal cells, intermediate cells, basal cells and the capillary network constitute the basic structures of the cochlear stria vascularis.Endothelial cells,basilar membrane,pericytes and Perivascular-resident macrophages form a blood-to-laby-rinth barrier through tight junctions between cells.