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Submicroscopic structure of the membranous labyrinth

1. The tectorial membrane

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Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und Mikroskopische Anatomie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Zusammenfassung

Der Verfasser hat eine Methode entwickelt, die es gestattet, die einzelnen Teile der Schnecke (Membrana tectoria, Basilarmembran, Ligamentum spirale, Limbus spiralis, Reissnersche Membran, Cortisches Organ) in ausreichendem Reinheitsgrad und in solchen Mengen zu isolieren, daß mikroskopische Untersuchungen mit polarisiertem Licht sowie mit dem Elektronenmikroskop, diffraktographische sowie chemische Analysen durchgeführt werden können.

Chemische und diffraktographische Untersuchungen haben ergeben, daß die Membrana tectoria hauptsächlich aus Proteinen bestellt. Das Vorhandensein von Kollagenprotein ist auszuschließen. Das Protein dürfte zur Gruppe der weichen Kératine mit geringem Cystingehalt gehören. Auf Grund der ausgezeichneten Übereinstimmung der Befunde am Phasenkontrastmikroskop, mit polarisiertem Licht (bei Vorhandensein Eigen- und Form-Doppelbrechung) und am Elektronenmikroskop ergibt sich, daß das in Frage stehende Protein aus Protofäden von etwa 90 Å Durchmesser besteht. Die Protofäden verlaufen leicht wellenförmig radiär, doch wurden (entlang dem exzentrischen Membranrande) auch Bereiche mit longitudinalem Faserverlauf beobachtet. Im ganzen sind sie mit einer gewissen Gleichartigkeit angeordnet, obwohl Bereiche mit dichterer — Longitudinalfasern — oder lockerer Anordnung — dem Limbus spiralis eingefügter Teil — vorhanden sind. Die Membrana tectoria ist somit epithelialer Herkunft mit augenscheinlich fadenförmig ausgerichteter Struktur.

Der Verfasser nimmt an, daß die Ausrichtung der Fasern mit dem Spannungszustand der Membran in Zusammenhang steht, die sich zwischen Limbus spiralis und Hensenschen Zellen bildet. Diese entfernen sich ihrerseits während der Bildung des Cortischen Organs voneinander.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Normal Human Anatomy of the University of Milan, Italy

    Salvatore Iurato

  2. Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic of the University of Milan, Italy

    Salvatore Iurato

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  1. Salvatore Iurato
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Research financed by C.N.R. grant.

Acknowledgements. The author expresses his thanks to Dr. S. De Petris of the INAIL Laboratory of Electron Microscopy of the Clinic for Occupational Diseases of the University of Milan for the help and technical assistance given in obtaining X-ray diagrams and electron photograms with the Siemens Elmiskop I. Grateful acknowledgements are also made to Dr. L. Amante for the —SH and —S—S— groups determinations.

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Iurato, S. Submicroscopic structure of the membranous labyrinth. Zeitschrift für Zellforschung 52, 105–128 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00344642

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