Spiral ligament tension fibroblasts and extracellular fibres in the guinea pig.

Fibroblasts with stress fibres and their relationship to extracellular matrix fibres were described in the marginal regions of the spiral ligament in several mammalian species. Location, structure and attachment of these cells suggested that they facilitated the development of radial tension in the basilar membrane-spiral ligament complex. In this study, fibroblast structure and relationship with the extracellular matrix was examined by light and transmission electron microscopy in the guinea pig spiral ligament. Tension fibroblasts were found in marginal and subcentral regions of the spiral ligament. Their ultrastructure was described. They were related to the trabeculated extracellular matrix and were numerous in the marginal region at the spiral ligament-otic capsule interface. Their comparative anatomy and role in the development of spiral ligament-otic capsule tension was discussed.