Fig. 5. Freeze-fracture replica electron microscopy. As previously reported (Janke, 1975a; Janke, 1975b; Gulley and Reese, 1976), TJs of basal cell layers of Cld11^+/+ stria vascularis are characterized by many parallel strands (arrows) that do not extensively anastomose (a). In a low-power replica image of Cld11^-/- stria vascularis, marginal (M) and basal (B) cell layers can be identified (b). Arrows and arrowheads represent the basal cellular processes of marginal cells and cell-cell contact sites of basal cells, respectively. Asterisk, scala media. At the most apical region of the lateral membrane of marginal cells of Cld11^-/- stria vascularis, TJ strands (arrows) are well developed continuously (c) but, at the cell-cell contact planes between adjacent basal cells on the same replica, no TJ strands are observed (d). Bars, 200 nm (a), 2 µm (b), 200 nm (c,d).