Electron Microscopic Observations of the Utricle and Ampullae in a case of Dizziness of Suspected Saccular Origin

Abstract

Electron microscopic observation was reported on the utricle and ampullae of a case, a 36-year-old male, with dizziness attack due to suspected saccular origin. After the removal of the utricle and ampullae, the dizziness recurred, and finally the saccular nerve section relieved the dizziness attack of this case. So the actual lesion was localized in the saccule and was not in the specimens obtained at the first surgery. Though most of hair cells appeared normal, there were a few with many vacuoles or shrinkage of the cytoplasm distributing sparsely throughout the sensory epithelia. The distribution of the pathological hair cells in the utricle was more general than in the ampullae. The sensory hair cells without pathology and the presynaptic structures were similar to those found in the experimental animals. Nerve and nerve endings showed normal structures. The findings may be physiological at this age group or an extension of the pathology of the dizziness-causing lesion.