Na-K-ATPase activity in the guinea pig stria vascularis in experimentally-induced endolymphatic hydrops

The effect of endolymphatic hydrops on the Na-K-ATPase activity in the guinea pig stria vascularis was electron microscopically and enzyme cytochemically investigated one year after experimental induction. The morphological observations revealed intercellular dropsy in the basal infoldings of the marginal cells, and shrinkage and disappearance of intermediate cells. Moreover, shrinkage of the marginal cells, especially of the basal infoldings, was occasionally observed. In spite of these morphological alterations, the Na-K-ATPase activity was still detected on the plasma membrane of the basal infoldings of most marginal cells. No remarkable differences were found among the cochlear turns of the specimens examined. However, no reaction product was detected on the basolateral plasma membrane of severely degenerated marginal cells. The present results indicate that the Na-K-ATPase of the plasma membrane of the basal infoldings of the marginal cells plays an important role in the maintenance of the unique ion concentration of the endolymph even in the endolymphatic hydropic condition, and that the Na-K-ATPase activity is attenuated in severely atrophic cells.