Figure 5
Transmission electron micrographs of the basement membrane and stroma beneath the sensory epithelia from patients with Meniere's disease. (A) Horizontal crista ampullaris from a patient with Meniere's disease. The thickening of the BM underneath the SE appeared to be disorganized collagen-like fibrils under TEM. (B) BM from a Meniere's utricular macula. The thickening of the BM appeared to be a disarray of collagen-like fibrils (arrows). The stromal fibroblast (FB) cytoplasm demonstrated mild vacuolization. The stromal perivascular BMs surrounding the blood vessels (BV) was also thickened ({ }), and endothelial cell cytoplasm was vacuolated (arrowheads). (C) Nerve fibers (NF) within the stroma appear relatively normal. The NF axoplasm is mildly vacuolated (arrowheads), with normal myelin arrangement (M). Bars in A = 6 μm, B = 5 μm, C = 6 μm. Thin sections counterstained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate.