Expression of intermediate filament proteins in the adult human vestibular labyrinth

The immunohistochemical detection of intermediate filament proteins, cytoskeletal constituents that allow the characterization of tissues, was investigated in frozen sections of the chemically fixed, nondecalcified, adult human vestibular labyrinth. Cytokeratins (CKs) were detected in all epithelia (including the sensory epithelia), although substantial differences in the degree of staining between individual cells occurred. The expression of CKs 7, 8, 18, and 19 as detected with our subunit-specific monoclonal antibodies in the vestibular epithelia is typical of "simple" epithelia and is identical to the CK subtypes found in the human cochlea. Although immunostaining for CK 7 was very weak and was limited to certain vestibular wall cells, the other CKs demonstrated a pronounced and rather uniform distribution throughout the different epithelia. All epithelia (including the sensory epithelia) displayed expression of vimentin, thus demonstrating co-expression with CKs. Vimentin was also present in the subepithelial connective tissue fibroblasts and mesothelial lining of the vestibular labyrinth. Neurofilament proteins were detected in all neuronal structures. The intense staining for CKs in the maculae and cristae implies that these sensory organs are rigid structures, a finding that may possibly be of importance in the mechanoelectrical transduction process for the sense of equilibrium.