Enzyme-histochemical reactions of the cochlea of guinea pigs were performed in surface preparations. The results are demonstrated for different types of enzymes and compared to conventional slides.
The main advantage of surface preparations consists in having and overall look on bigger distances of the organ of Corti, the spiral ligament or the spiral limbus. Quantitative examinations of the intensity of several reactions are more easily done as with slides. The vascular net may be excellently studied in surface preparations. On a cytological level intensity differences inside special cells, for instance apical or basal location of the reaction products are better judged in slides.