Gap junctions in the stria vascularis and effects of ethacrynic acid.

Gap junctions in the stria vascularis of guinea pigs were studied using freeze-fracture. Nearly all junctions were associated with basal cells. They were present between basal cells and spiral ligament cells, adjacent basal cells, basal and marginal cells and basal and intermediate cells. Following administration of ethacrynic acid, gap junction morphology altered. There was a statistically significant decrease in the centre-to-centre spacing of gap junction subunits and the subunits became regularly packed. Such changes were distinct before any other gross morphological change in the stria had occurred. These morphological alterations suggest that physiological uncoupling of stria cells may occur in response to the effects of ethacrynic acid.