Tissue Culture of the Organ of Corti: Part I

Abstract

In 1975, Sobkowicz et al. (1) described long-term organotypic cultures of the organ of Corti of the newborn mouse. This paper provides detailed methods for dissection and maintenance of the isolated organ of Corti with its corresponding segment of spiral ganglion in culture. Descriptions and illustrations of cellular characteristics of the developing organ are carefully documented. The work is based on 19 years of experience and over one thousand cultures. Review of the literature and the application of the technique to research on the inner ear are provided.

Key Words:

• organ of Corti
• tissue culture
• auditory hair cells
• spiral ganglion cells
• development.
• Abbreviations
• af—anterior fossa
• A—apex
• B—base bm—basilar membrane
• c—central fiber
• cc—cochlear capsule
• crc—crus commune DIV—days in vitro
• dvs—dural venous sinus
• he—hair cell region
• ih—inner hair cells
• is—inner spiral sulcus
• la—labyrinth
• lc—lateral canal
• li—limbus
• ma—malleus
• M—mid
• Nb—newborn
• oC—organ of Corti
• og—outgrowth
• oh—outer hair cells
• os—outer spiral sulcus
• ow—oval window
• p—peripheral fiber
• pc—posterior canal
• pi—pillar cells
• pf—posterior fossa
• PN—postnatal (days)
• rb—radial bundle
• rw—round window
• sc—superior canal
• sg—spiral ganglion
• sp—spiral prominence
• sv—stria vascularis
• t—tentorium
• tb—temporal bone
• tern—tectorial membrane
• tym—tympanic membrane
• ve—vessel