[Primary culture of strial marginal cells of guinea pig cochlea].

OBJECTIVE

For further study of the function of marginal cells, primary cultures of marginal cells of guinea pig were established.

METHOD

Tissue of stria vascularis was transferred from the cochlea to a cell-cultured dish using the explants culture technique. Explants were cultivated at 37 degrees C in a 5% CO2 incubator and examined daily by interted microscopy. The culture medium was changed twice a week. Antibodies of cytokeratin and vimentin were used to examine the cultured cells by immunohistochemical methods. The ultrastructure of the cultured cells was observed by making the electron microscopy specimens.

RESULT

Explants were successfully cultivated for 4 weeks. Two different cells, hexagonal-shaped cells and spindle-shaped cells were observed. Cytokeratin and vimentin staining occurred in cytoplasm of hexagonal-shaped cells, whereas spindle-shaped cells gave a negative cytokeratin staining but a positive vimentin staining. Electron microscopy of the explants revealed that hexagonal-shaped cells have the epithelial morphologic characteristics such as tight junctions and desmosomes.

CONCLUSION

Primary culture of marginal cells by explants culture technique provides an optimal model for investigation of the function of the marginal cells.