L. Quantitative histochemistry of microscopic structures of the cochlea: II. Ischemic alterations of levels of glycolytic intermediates and cofactors in the organ of corti and stria vascularis

Application of Lowry's quantitative histochemical techniques lead to the observation of several prominent biochemical features of the organ of Corti and the stria vascularis: The organ of Corti possesses rich supplies of glycogen and glucose. Stria cells also seem to contain substantial glycogen stores. These energy reserves are essentially untouched during brief ischemia. Both types of tissue have comparable levels of ATP and creatine-P, The creatine-P content drops precipitously in either tissue already within 30 seconds of ischemia. In the stria ATP decreases similarly fast in anoxia. In the organ of Corti the ATP level is hardly altered even after 3 minutes of ischemia. Tissue, located remote from the blood supply, contains abundant carbohydrate stores and probably an active glycolytic system and is therefore able to survive the emergency of ischemia for considerable length of time.