Glycocalyx and ciliary interconnections of the vestibular end organs: an investigation by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy.

The ultrastructure of the glycocalyx and ciliary interconnections was investigated by using a tannic acid staining technique. A high-resolution scanning electron microscope was used for the observation. The plasma membrane showed a rather rough appearance which was most prominent in the ciliary membrane of the sensory cells. Ciliary interconnections emerged from the plasma membrane and tightly connected neighboring cilia. The tip links stretched from the tips of the stereocilia to their taller neighbors. These tip links were arranged in the same direction towards the kinocilium. These findings indicate that the ciliary interconnections may keep the cilia arranged in a bundle, and the tip links may be involved in a sensory cell transduction system.