Electron microscopic studies of ion- and H2O-transporting epithelial cells in the horizontal ampulla of the pigeon

• Villegas, H. ^[1] ; Merker, H. J. ^[2] ; Helling, K. ^[3] ; Clarke, A.H. ^[3] ; Scherer, H. ^[3]
  1. [1] Institute of Anatomy, Freie Universitat Berlin, Germany; Nationallnstitute of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation , Mexico City, Mexico
  2. [2] Institute of Anatomy, Freie Universitat Berlin, Germany
  3. [3] ENT-Department, Benjamin Franklin Medical Center, Freie Universitat Berlin, Germany

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• Localización: Histology and histopathology: cellular and molecular biology, ISSN-e 1699-5848, ISSN 0213-3911, Vol. 16, Nº. 4, 2001, págs. 1161-1174
• Idioma: inglés
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  • Earlier morphological studies of the epithelial structure jn the semicircular canals of mammals have focused on the sensory cells of the crista ampullaris. This report draws attention to the fact that th e re exist at least seven further cell types in the horizontal ampulla walls of pigeon with various functions; the role of ion- and H20-transporting epithelial cells is dealt with here in detail. While the dark cells appear to play a decisive role in the regulation of ionic composition, the cells in the planum semilunatum may transport H20 and assist in the regulation of endolymph volume. In addition, protein-secreting structures are located in the apical region of the cells of the planum semilunatum. The question whether the proteins are dispersed in the endolymph or contribute to cupula formation remains unclear. The morphology and possible function of these two cell types are discussed on the basis of electron microscopic results.