Objective: To study the distribution of beta-actin in the chicken and guinea pig cochlea hair cells.
Method: beta-actin immunoreactivity was observed by immunohistochemistry.
Result: beta-actin was located in stereocilia of hair cells and cytoplasm of marginal epithelium cells which tectorial membrane attached in basilar papilla; In the corti's organ beta-actin was present in three row outer hair cells cytoplasm and the phalangeal process and cytoplasm of the tunnel cells.
Conclusion: There is a common cytoskeletal protein beta-actin in the chick and guinea pig cochleae, but the distribution of beta-actin in two species are different significantly.