Cell Culture Study of the Vestibular Ganglion Cells: Morphology and Immunohistochemical Activity

Abstract

Incubation of vestibular ganglion cells from the rat fetus and chick embryos was successfully done demonstrating bipolar cells and two types of multipolar cells, small round cells and large cells, in the cell cultures produced. Vestibular ganglion cells were found to be highly irregular in size. Furthermore, the presence of neurotransmitters (choline acetyl-transferase and substance P) was confirmed immunohistochemically. Substance P positive cells had many bipolar cells and some multipolar cells. However, choline acetyl transferase positive cells had some small multipolar cells but few bipolar cells. These findings suggest that all vestibular ganglion cells do not have the same function.

Key Words:

• vestibular ganglion cells
• cell culture
• morphology
• neurotransmitters