Macromolecular transport in the spiral prominence.

Transport of macromolecules in the spiral prominence of the guinea pig was studied after perilymphatic and intravenous horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injection. HRP was taken up by the spiral prominence epithelium from the perilymphatic space and in a much higher degree from the endolymphatic space. A highly endocytic activity was shown by the stroma cells surrounding the spiral prominence vessel. HRP particles were stored in the cytoplasm within vesicles and vacuoles of different sizes and different contrasts. The mode of tracer storage in the spiral prominence epithelium and in the stroma cells from the morphological point of view suggests lysosomal digestion. HRP was transported from the perilymphatic space into the spiral prominence vessel lumen by means of vesicular transport through the vessel wall, while transport of the tracer from the vessel lumen into the perilymphatic space after intravenous injection was not observed.