Incorporation of palmitic acid in the organ of Corti as revealed by autoradiography.

The sites of incorporation of [3H]palmitic acid perfused through the scala tympani of the guinea pig cochlea were localized autoradiographically. The most active incorporation occurred in the lipid globules of Hensen's cells, followed by the hair cells, myelin of the cochlear nerve and other cells. It is speculated that the lipid globules of Hensen's cells act as a reservoir of the vitamin A esterified by fatty acids.