内耳におけるメラニンの分布

抄録

Melanin pigment is known to distribute in the modiolus, stria vascularis, dark cell areas, endolymphatic sac and other part of membrane of the labyrinth. The melanin appears first in the wall of scala vestibuli of 18 week-old fetus. It accumulates increasingly in the various parts of inner ear according as the fetal age proceeds.After birth, the melanin deposits reached the maximum in the labyrinthof one-year old infant. Therefore, melanin deposits are parallel to the development of labyrinth. In the adult inner ears, unusual melanosis occurs in the stria vascularis. Melanocytes migrate in the inner ear with labyrinthitis.