Summary
Carbonic anhydrase activity was demonstrated cytochemically on an ultrastructural level in the vestibular end organs of the guinea pig. Reaction product was found in the dark cells, transitional cells, cells of the planum semilunatum and supporting cells. In the dark cells, reaction product was observed in the cytoplasm as well as in the basal infoldings. Reaction product was also observed in the basal infoldings of the transitional cells and the cells of the planum semilunatum. The globular structures inside the supporting cells, transitional cells and the cells of the planum semilunatum were also surrounded by the reaction product. These findings suggest that carbonic anhydrase may have different functions, such as water and ion transport, respiration, nutrition and calcium carbonate deposition in the vestibular end organs.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dohlman GF (1964) Secretion and absorption of endolymph. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 73:708–723
Drescher DG (1977) Purification of a carbonic anhydrase from the inner ear of the guinea pig. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 74:892–896
Erurkar SC, Maren TH (1961) Carbonic anhydrase and the inner ear. Nature 189:459–460
Hansson HPJ (1967) Histochemical demonstration of carbonic anhydrase activity. Histochemie 11:112–128
Hansson HPJ (1968) Histochemical demonstration of carbonic anhydrase activity in some epithelia noted for active transport. Acta Physiol Scand 73:427–434
Harada Y (1984) The vestibular end organs. Morphology physiology and pathology. Nishimura, Niigata
Hsu CJ, Nomura Y (1985) Carbonic anhydrase activity in the inner ear. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) [Suppl] 418:1–42
Lim DJ, Karabinas C, Trune DR (1983) Histochemical localization of carbonic anhydrase in the inner ear. Am J Otolaryngol 4:33–42
Lönnerholm G (1973) Histochemical demonstration of carbonic anhydrase activity in the human kidney. Acta Physiol Scand 88:455–468
Lütjen-Drecoll E, Lönnerholm G (1981) Carbonic anhydrase distribution in the rabbit eye by light and electron microscopy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 21:782–797
Nakai Y, Hilding DA (1968) Vestibular endolymph producing epithelium. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 66:120–128
Papas GD, Smelser GK (1960) The fine structure of the ciliary epithelium in relation to aqueous secretion. Anat Rec 136:235–255
Purichia N, Erway LC (1972) Effects of dichlorphenamide, zinc and manganese on otolith development in mice. Rev Biol 27:395–405
Rhodin J (1958) Anatomy of kidney tubules. Int Rev Cytol 7:485–534
Spicer SS, Sens MA, Henninger RA, Stoward PJ (1984) Implications of the immunohistochemical localization of the carbonic anhydrase isozymes for their function in normal and pathologic cell. Ann NY Acad Sci 429:382–397
Storey BT, Dodgson SJ, Forster II RE (1984) Mitochondrial carbonic anhydrase. The purified enzyme. Ann NY Acad Sci 429:210–212
Takumida M, Bagger-Sjöbäck D, Rask-Andersen H (1988) Ultrastructural localization of carbonic anhydrase and its possible role in the endolymphatic sac. ORL 50: 170–175
Vincentiis DM, Marmo F (1968) Inhibition of the morphologenesis of the otoliths in the chick embryo in the presence of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Experimentia 24:818–820
Watanabe K, Ogawa A (1984) Carbonic anhydrase activity in stria vascularis and dark cells in vestibular labyrinth. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 93:262–266
Yokota S (1969) Electron microscopic demonstration of carbonic anhydrase activity in mouse liver cells. Histochemie 19:251–261
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Takumida, M., Bagger-Sjöbäck, D., Wersäll, J. et al. Ultrastructural localization of carbonic anhydrase in the vestibular end organs of the guinea pig. Arch Otorhinolaryngol 246, 56–60 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00454136
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00454136