Open AccessDye coupling in the organ of Corti
Author(s) -
Joseph SantosSacchi
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
cell and tissue research (print)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.64
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1432-0878
pISSN - 0302-766X
DOI - 10.1007/bf00218553
Subject(s) - lucifer yellow , fluorescein , organ of corti , coupling (piping) , biophysics , intracellular , guinea pig , fluorescence , biology , organ culture , anatomy , in vitro , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biochemistry , gap junction , cochlea , endocrinology , optics , materials science , physics , metallurgy
Dye-coupling in an in vitro preparation of the supporting cells of the guinea-pig organ of Corti was evaluated by use of the fluorescent dyes, Lucifer Yellow, fluorescein and 6 carboxyfluorescein. Despite the presence of good electrical coupling in Hensen cells (coupling ratios greater than 0.6) the spread of Lucifer yellow was inconsistent. Hensen cells are very susceptible to photoinactivation, i.e., cell injury upon illumination of intracellular dye; and this in conjunction with Lucifer Yellow's charge and K+-induced precipitability may account for its variability of spread. Fluorescein and 6 carboxyfluorescein, on the other hand, spread more readily and to a greater extent than Lucifer Yellow, often spreading to cell types other than those of Hensen. Dye spread is rapid, occurring within a few minutes. These results suggest that molecules of metabolic importance also may be shared by the supporting cells of the organ of Corti.