RESUMO
The endolymph and perilymph of the inner ear have unique ionic composition and electrical potential. It is widely accepted that normal auditory function depends on them and Na/K-ATPase plays a central role in production and maintenance of them. The distribution of five Na/K-ATPase subunit isoform (alpha1, alpha2, alpha3, beta1, and beta2) in rat inner ear was determined by immunohistochemistry after decalcifying the temporal bone with Gooding and Stewart's solution. In the cochlear regions, Na/K-ATPase alpha1beta1 isozyme was abundantly expressed in the infrastrial fibrocytes, suprastrial fibrocytes, spiral prominence, outer sulcus cells and spiral ganglion, and also detected in cochlear nerve and interdental cells. alpha1beta2 isozyme was abundantly expressed in all layers of stria vascularis and alpha3beta1 isozyme was detected in cochlear nerve and spiral ganglion. alpha3beta2 isozyme was expressed in spiral ganglion. In vestibular regions, Na/K-ATPase alpha1b1 isozyme was expressed in macular sacculi hair cell, transitional cells of ampulla, and vestibular ganglion, and alpha1b2 isozyme was abundantly expressed in ampullary dark cells and transitional cells and vestibular ganglion. a3b1 isozyme was abundantly expressed in crista ampularis, macula utriculi, and macula sacculi hair cells, and also moderately detected in ampullary, utricular, and saccular nerves, and vestibular ganglion. alpha3beta2 isozyme also detected in ampullary, utricular, and saccular nerves, and vestibular ganglion. But, alpha2beta1 and alpha2beta2 isozymes were not detected in any regions of inner ear. These findings suggest the possibility of four unique Na/K-ATPase isozymes deferentially expressed among the various cell types of the inner ear. This structural diversity imparts considerable biological versatility to the Na/K-ATPase and would be provided the explanations for the differences in fluid and ion transport and its regulation among the inner ear regions.