Fine Structures of Utricle of Developing Chick Embryo Exposed to 2G Gravity

Abstract

Utricular otoconia of the chick embryos incubated under continuous 2G load were examined under a scanning electron microscope. Morphological changes were confined to the process of otoconial formation and the otoconial size. Otoconial formation was remarkably delayed in the utricle of 2G centrifuged chick embryo. Giant otoconia, which sometimes amounted to over 100 μm in length, existed along the marginal zone of the utricular otolithic membrane. These results indicate that the 2G state influences the otoconical formation.

Key Words:

• hypergravity
• otoconia
• scanning electron microscope