Ontogeny of Glucocorticoid Receptors in the Hyperstriatum‐Hippocampus‐Parahippocampal Area and Optic Tectumof the Embryonic Chicken (
            Gallus domesticus
            ) Brain

Otoconia are microscopic geometric structures that cover the sensory epithelia of the utricle and saccule (gravitational receptors) of mammals, and the lagena macula of birds. The importance of otoconia for maintanance of the body balance is evidenced by the abnormal behavior of species with genetic defects of otolith. Although a few reports have dealt with otoconia formation, some basic questions remain unanswered. The chick embryo is desirable for studying otoconial formation because its inner ear structures are easily accessible, and its gestational period is short (21 days of incubation).The results described here are part of an intensive study intended to examine the morphogenesis of the otoconia in the chick embryo (Gallus- domesticus) inner ear. We used chick embryos from the 4th day of incubation until hatching, and examined the specimens with light (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The embryos were decapitated, and fixed by immersion with 3% cold glutaraldehyde. The ears and their parts were dissected out under the microscope; no decalcification was used. For LM, the ears were embedded in JB-4 plastic, cut serially at 5 micra and stained with 0.2% toluidine blue and 0.1% basic fuchsin in 25% alcohol.

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Otoconia perfect/imperfect crystals

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100167949 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 52 ◽

pp. 42-43

Author(s):

César D. Fermin ◽

Dale Martin

Keyword(s):

Image Processing ◽

Room Temperature ◽

Phosphotungstic Acid ◽

Gallus Domesticus ◽

Crystal Matrix ◽

Organic Templates ◽

Image Processing Algorithms ◽

Processing Algorithms ◽

Diffraction Patterns

Otoconia of higher vertebrates are interesting biological crystals that display the diffraction patterns of perfect crystals (e.g., calcite for birds and mammal) when intact, but fail to produce a regular crystallographic pattern when fixed. Image processing of the fixed crystal matrix, which resembles the organic templates of teeth and bone, failed to clarify a paradox of biomineralization described by Mann. Recently, we suggested that inner ear otoconia crystals contain growth plates that run in different directions, and that the arrangement of the plates may contribute to the turning angles seen at the hexagonal faces of the crystals.Using image processing algorithms described earlier, and Fourier Transform function (2FFT) of BioScan Optimas®, we evaluated the patterns in the packing of the otoconia fibrils of newly hatched chicks (Gallus domesticus) inner ears. Animals were fixed in situ by perfusion of 1% phosphotungstic acid (PTA) at room temperature through the left ventricle, after intraperitoneal Nembutal (35mg/Kg) deep anesthesia. Negatives were made with a Hitachi H-7100 TEM at 50K-400K magnifications. The negatives were then placed on a light box, where images were filtered and transferred to a 35 mm camera as described.

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