[Clearance function of endolymphatic sac to extraneous TD-antigen].

OBJECTIVE

To study the clearance function of the rat endolymphatic sac to TD antigen.

METHOD

30 healthy adult S-D rats were employed in the experiment. At two weeks after being sensitized systemically with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) (Thymus-dependent antigen), the animals were inoculated into the labyrinth through cochlea base tune with the same antigen. At 1, 3 h, 1, 3,7 and 14 day after labyrinth vaccination, the rats were sacrificed and the temporal bones were removed, then the frozen-sections of the decalcified samples were examined respectively. Using Anti-KLH McAb, the SABC immunohistochemical methods were utilized to investigate the changes of KLH in the endolymphatic sac.

RESULT

At 3 h after labyrinth vaccination the antigen appeared in the endolymphatic sac. While the KLH were trapped and phagocytized in the endolymphatic sac at 1-7 day after labyrinth vaccination, the antigen in the cochleae gradually reduced. At the 14th day only feeble KLH positive stains can be found in the endolymphatic sac.

CONCLUSION

The rat endolymphatic sac can phagocytize, dispose and removal extraneous antigen, which verifies the immune defense function of endolymphatic sac in inner ear immune response.