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. 2017 Aug 10;10:239. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00239

FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 1

Confocal fluorescence microscopy (overlay) of the lateral wall of the basal turn of the human cochlea. Endolymph secretion by marginal cells is reflected by the dual polarized expression of Na/K-ATPase and the Na/K/Cl cotransporter (merge). Outer sulcus epithelium and root cells (box) express only Na/K-ATPase (inset). Fibrocytes were classified according to Spicer and Schulte (1991) into types I–V after immunohistochemical staining of Na/K-ATPase (α1-subunit) and the Na/K/Cl cotransporter. Type II, IV and V fibrocytes express NKCC1 but also the α1 and β1 Na/K-ATPase isoforms more clearly shown in Figures 2, 6, 8. Type I fibrocytes lack both enzymes but instead express Cx26/30 through the gap junction network. Gaps in epithelial ion transporter expression are circled. Claudin-11 expressing cells are anchored to the epithelium at these sites, as shown in Figures 2, 3, 7. Dotted line; location of the Claudin-11 border (“veil”). RC, root cells; SS, suprastrial space; RM, Reissner’s membrane; E, endolymph.