Intermediate Filaments in the Cochleas of Normal and Mutant (w/wv, Sl/sld) Mice

Using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to intermediate filaments in the cochleas of normal and mutant mice, we were able to distinguish between different cell types of the stria vascularis. Immunostaining for vimentin was found in the intermediate and basal cells of the stria vascularis of the normal mice. In contrast, vimentin was seen to stain only the basal cells in the mutant mice, confirming our previous findings of the absence of intermediate cells in these cases of hereditary deafness. Immunostaining for cytokeratin was identical in both the mutant and control mice.