Gastric-type H+,K+-ATPase in mouse vestibular end organs.

CONCLUSION

Gastric type H+,K+-ATPase in the vestibular end organs may be of importance for K+ circulation and may also be related to pH regulation in vestibular end organs and endolymphatic sac.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the expression of gastric-type H+,K+-ATPase in normal mouse vestibular end organs.

METHODS

8 weeks old CBA/J mice were used in this study. The presence of gastric-type H+,K+-ATPase α and β in the vestibular end organs, viz. utricle, saccule, ampulla, vestibular ganglion, and endolymphatic sac, was investigated using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

In the vestibular end organs, H+,K+-ATPase α and β were almost identical. H+,K+-ATPase was expressed in sensory cells, the basolateral surface of dark cells, fibrocytes, in vestibular ganglion cells, and in the upper region of the endolymphatic sac epithelial cells.