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

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Copyright © 2017 Liu, Schrott-Fischer, Glueckert, Benav and Rask-Andersen.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

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Confocal, super-resolution (SR-SIM) and transmission electron microscopy of the human stria vascularis. (A) Co-staining of Kir4.1 and Cx26 in the human StV after SR-SIM processing. The expression pattern may suggest that K⁺ conductive property in the human stria also depends on K⁺ channels located in the basal cells. BC, basal cells; IC, intermediate cells. (B) Claudin-11 and Cx26 are co-expressed consistent with TEM findings. (C) Cx26 and Na/K-ATPase are separately expressed with no expression of Na/K-ATPase in the syncytial layer. (D) Tight junction protein occludin is expressed between epithelial cells in RM (SR-SIM). There is no Claudin-11 expression. (E) Instead, Claudin-11 expressing cells bulge into the RM/StV junction for insulation (SR-SIM). The inset shows parallel Claudin-11-positive strands. (F) The boxed area in E viewed at higher magnification. (G,H) TEM showing the conductor/isolator characteristics of StV epithelial cells with concurrent TJs and GJs. (I) Higher magnification of TJs with several membrane fusions between adjacent cells. RM, Reissner’s membrane; SV, scala vestibuli; StV, stria vascularis; E, endolymph; TJ, tight junction.