Electron microscopical and histochemical studies of outer hair cells in normal rabbits.

The outer hair cells of the rabbit were electron microscopically and histochemically investigated. The results clearly showed that the outer hair cells of the rabbit have no agglomeration of mitochondria in its infranuclear region. This anatomical fact means that the functional mechanism in the outer hair cells of the rabbit may be substantially different from that of other animals which have agglomeration of mitochondria. From the results of the histochemical study, it is reasonably supposed that the anaerobic energy metabolism may ordinarily play the leading part in sustaining the cellular functions in the infranuclear region of the outer hair cells of the rabbit.