The influence of different fixatives and osmolality on the ultrastructure of the cochlear neuroepithelium

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Abstract
To investigate which fixative is most suitable for the preservation of cochlear hair cells three main groups of fixatives were used: 3% glutar aldehyde in various buffers (osmolality altered). Glutar aldehyde/paraform aldehyde combination (ad modum Karnovsky). Osmic acid solutions (OsO4) in veronal acetate buffer according to Rhodin (1954). The 2% osmic acid fixative (350–370 mosm/kg) resulted in an excellent ultrastructural preservation; an acceptable result was obtained with a 3% glutar aldehyde fixative in 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer, 600–700 mosm/kg and the Karnovsky's fixative.