1985 Volume 4 Pages 11-16
The inner ear and eye of cats and dog showing symptoms of the Waardenburg syndrome were studied histologically.
No histological abnormality was observed in the external, middle, and internal ear of white cats with blue irides without deafness. Structural disorders were observed in the labyrinthus membrane of the internal ear of a deaf white dog, but no histological abnormality was observed in the external and middle ear. Precipitation of white crystals was observed on the surface of the tectorial membrane, and these were identified as calcium by X-ray elementary analysis. Cochlear nerve fibers were present, but were not observed in and beyond the tunnel. No inner or outer hair cells were found in the organ of Corti.
An electronmicroscopic observation was made of the retina, choroidea, and sclera of the deaf white dog. Histological abnormalities were not present in the pigment epithelium, layer of rods and cones, nerve cells, or sclera. Deletions of pigment granules and tapetum were found in the choroidea at the iris versicolor side.
The iris was not studied electronmicroscopically nor histologically.
