The presence of laminin in the fetal human inner ear.

The expression of laminin was analyzed in the human fetal inner ear using immunohistochemical methods. In the 11-week-old human fetus, the presence of laminin was found in the basement membrane of the immature cochlea, endolymphatic sac and vestibular end organs. The reaction of the basement membrane of the endolymphatic sac was strong in the 15-week-old human fetus. A laminin reaction was seen in the cochlea, Reissner's membrane, epithelial cells of the limbus spiralis, the basilar membrane and the stria vascularis. In particular, the capillaries and basement membrane of the stria vascularis were strongly positive. These results suggest that laminin may be an essential component in the development of the inner ear and may possibly be related to filtration of the endolymph.