Ear Research Japan
Online ISSN : 1884-5797
Print ISSN : 0288-9781
ISSN-L : 0288-9781
Volume 15, Issue 1
Displaying 1-50 of 138 articles from this issue
  • Ivan M. Hunter-Duvar
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 1-4
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
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  • W. Schätzle
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 5-8
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Enzyme-histochemical reactions of the cochlea of guinea pigs were performed in surface preparations. The results are demonstrated for different types of enzymes and compared to conventional slides.
    The main advantage of surface preparations consists in having and overall look on bigger distances of the organ of Corti, the spiral ligament or the spiral limbus. Quantitative examinations of the intensity of several reactions are more easily done as with slides. The vascular net may be excellently studied in surface preparations. On a cytological level intensity differences inside special cells, for instance apical or basal location of the reaction products are better judged in slides.
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  • Matti Anniko
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 9-12
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Analytical electron microscopy is a new technique in the study of the inner ear. So far analyses have been performed mainly on normal conditions. Principally two different techniques are used: (1) bulk specimen analysis of inner ear fluids, cupula, otoconia and tectorial membrane, using the SEM mode, and, (2) analysis of thin (<1μm) and semi-thin (2-6μm) sections of freezedried and plastic-embedded inner ears using the STEM mode. The latter technique gives a resolution at the cellular and subcellular levels of all tissues in the inner ear. When comparing the elemental composition in different cell types the analyses (regarding thin and semi-thick sections) have in general to be evaluated on statistical grounds.
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  • Is caloric nystagmus probable in weightlessness?
    Y. Harada
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 13-14
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Under little influence of counter flow, thermal stimulus was applied to the partly isolated posterior semicircular canal of the bullfrog. Warming or cooling stimuli to either canal side or utricular side of the canal changed semicircular canal nerve activity. These results suggest that the changes in the endolymphatic density might be responsible for caloric nystagmus evoked in weightlessness.
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  • E. Yamamoto, M. Iwanaga
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 15-17
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    We have used homologous nasal cartilage plates in 142 tympanoplasties for the past 7 years and obtained statisfactory results. In order to demonstrate the fate of homograft cartilages implanted into the middle ear, the transplanted cartilages removed at revision surgery were investigated histologically. Macroscopically, the appearance and shape of the cartilages have been remained unchanged without evidence of erosion. There was no evidence of any foreign body reaction and rejection phenomenon. Histologically, no marked changes of the matrix tissues were found in general, although chondrocytes showed degenerative changes. There was partial absorption of cartilage and replacement by fibrous tissue when inflamnatory changes occurred in the middle ear. It is concluded that the implanted homograft cartilages can be expected to maintain its stiffness for a long period in a healthy, aerated middle ear.
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  • S. Tomioka, T. Takasaka, K. Kawamoto, Y. Iino, R. Yuasa, [in Japanese]
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 18-20
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    To examine the mechanism of bone destructions in the middle ear inflammations, non-decalcified specimens of the ossicles were examined under a light and an lectromicroscope. Twenty three specimens were removed from the patients with chronic otitis media with or without cholesteatoma at the time of middle ear surgery. The specimens were embedded into the epoxy resin after dehydration of graded ethanol. The spcimens were cut by Sorvall MT-5000 ultratome and stained by 1% Toluidinblue solution for light microscopic examination. Five hundred nm thick sections were made for HVEM observation and also 100 nm ultra thin sections were prepared for a conventional EM.
    The following results were obtained. 1) Two types of mineral bony surface were observed under an electromicroscope. (A) The bony surface with many precipitations of mineral on the collagen fibers. (B) The bony surface with low density area or irregular edge. 2) These two types of the mineral bony surface were observed at the ossicular lesion with chronic otitis media, with or without cholesteatoma.
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  • Isao Suzuki, Kazuko Ebihara, Hiromitsu Tsuyuki, Shinichi Hosi, Ken Nak ...
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 21-22
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Little research has been performed to date concerning the role of the structure of the annular ligament in the movement of the stapes. We carried out transmission and scanning electron microscopy observations on the annular ligament, and we thereby lerned that it consists of 3 layers: a tympano epithelial layer, a middle layer, and a mesothelial cell layer. The middle layer is composed primarily of collagenous fibers, elastic fibers, fibroblasta and amorpous substance.
    on the basis of these findings, it was realized that this trilayered structure is very similar to the round window.
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  • Y. Masuda, S. Uyeda, T. Sugiura, Y. Ogura, H. Nagai, K. Suzuki
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 23-25
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Authors observed the findings of malformed ear induced by maternal hypervitaminosis A using Wistar rats with combined staining to bone and cartilage. On day 9 or 10 of pregnancy, mother rat was injected water miscible vitamin A (200, 000 IU/Kg) intraperitoneally and fetuses were removed on day 21. This staining revealed differences of findings of ear between 2 groups of fetuses, whose mothers were injected vitamin A on day 9 in group A and on day 10 in B. In A, auricle and tympanic bone were absent in all ears and ossicles, Meckel's and Reichert's cartilages were absent or malformed in almost all of them. On the contrary, in B, auricle, tympanic bone and Meckel's cartilage were normal. Two ossicles except malleus and Reichert's cartilage were abnormal in many ears. Besides, phocomelia was found in all fetuses. Authors concluded that the differences of finding between these 2 groups were due to the difference of sensitivity to teratogenic agent in developing organs at that stage and suggested the possibility of the second arch origin of the considerable part of incus.
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  • K. Tashima, I. Honjo, K. Ushiro, N. Yagi, R. Odani
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 26-28
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Recent advance of CT scan make it possible to visualize the middle ear structure, such as ossicles, cochlea and facial canal. However, even the latest CT scanner with a high resolution of about 1mm is insufficient for visualizing entire sturcture of ossicles, because in the middle ear which is containing air, a fine part of ossicles is not detected and it could not be visualized due to the partial volume effect.
    To reduce the partial volume effect and to get more exact visualization, the CT picture was taken after the instillation of liquid in the middle ear.
    As a result of the above, the precise CT view of the ossicles especially long processus of the incus and incudostapedial joint was obtained.
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  • M. Shibuya, Y. Kaku, T. Takasaka, K. Kawamoto, R. Yuasa, Y. Kaneko
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 29-33
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Ultrastructural morphology of the promontrial mucosa was studied under an EM (Hitachi H-600) with an accelerating voltage of 75kV. of 12 specimens, the epithelial layer was present in 8 specimens and remaining 4 specimens lost their epithelial lining due to mechanical artefacts at the time of surgery. Six specimens out of 8 had a tall columnar type of epithelium and nonciliated cells had abundunt granules with or without dark-cores and bulging of macroapocrine secretion were often observed on the apical surface of these cells. Sometimes, in the enlarged intercellular space, several small spherical bodies, being enveloped by unit membrane, were found in this type of epithelium. These characteristic features of the epithelium seem to indicate hypersecretory state of the middle ear mucosa. Remining two specimens possessed a flat cuboidal type epithelium. Non ciliated cells had numerous microvilli on the surface but morphological features of secretory activities were absent in these cells. The dispersed ciliated cells were observed in both types of epithelium, showing some morphological changes such as shedding cilia and compound cilia.
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  • G. Mogi, Y. Kurono
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 34-36
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    To investigate the nature of middle ear effusion (MEE), secretory IgA, serum type IgA, and albumin were measured respectively by electrommunodiffusion method in 87 mucoid effusions and 54 serous effusions. Antibody activities of secretory IgA against the M antigen of streptococcus pyogenes were also investigated by ELISA in order to clarify the mucosal immume activity of middle ears affected by otitis media with effusion (MEE). The mean value of secretory IgA was 2712.6±1267.4μg/ml in mucoid MEE, and 854.6±1060.8μg/ml in serous MEE: while the mean value of serum type IgA was 2919±2308.9μg/ml in the mucoid group, and 4862.4±3387.4μg/ml in the serous group. These differences were statistically significant. The mean level of albumin concentrations in MEE was twice of that in sera. An appreciable antibody of secretory IgA to the M protein, which was between 11 to 68 ng/ml, was found in 17 of 77 (22%) mucoid MEE, and in 5 of 41 (12%) serous MEE. Findings of this study suggest that MEE is a muxture of secretions and transdate, that the accumulation of fluid, and water absorption, may occur in the tympanic cavity, and that middle ears affected by OME provide mucosal immunity preventing bacterial infection.
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  • Y. Hamaguchi, Y. Majima, Y. Sakakura, Y. Miyoshi
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 37-39
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    The level of prekallikrein and hydrolytic activity of trypsin, glandular kallikrein and lysosomal cathepsin B in middle ear effusions (MEEs) were measured by the fluorometric assay. MEEs (25 serous and 5 mucoid) had variable prekallikrein level of which mean value was 53.4±103.0 relative fluoro unit (RFU); 61.6 in serous and 12.3 in mucoid effusions. Hydrolytic activity of cathepsin B was much higher than that in plasma, and was 34.9±42.9 RFU; 35.1 in serous and 33.8 in mucoid effusions. Serous effusions could be divided into two groups; one (n=9) with high prekallikrein level (over 50 RFU) and the other (n=16) with low level (under 10 RFU), and their protein bands examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were very similar to those in Plasma. Hydrolytic activity of glandular kallikrein and trypsin was low in all the MEEs. These results suggest that the level of prekallikrein in MEEs is the significant parameter to reflect the degree of plasma leakage into middle ear, which is very low in mucoid effusions and very varied in serous effusions at the time of sampling. It is concluded that plasma leakage into middle ear and damage of secretory function in middle ear mucosa are two important factors related to the production of MEE.
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  • K. Shimoda, K. Kobayashi, N. Yamanaka, K. Morimoto, A. Kataura
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 40-42
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    In order to clarify the pathogenesis of otitis media, we used guinea pig as a model for studying the effect of inoculation of Haemophilus influenzae into the middle ear cavity. Histological changes and variations of 5- and 15-HETE synthesis in the guinea pig middle ear mucosa were investigated.
    5- and 15-HETE is producted when arachidonic acid of plasma membrane converted to SRS-A which is thought to be a chemical mediator of inflammation.
    (1) Formalin-inactivated H. influenzae induced inflammation in the middle ear mucosa, but not so strong as non treated H. influenzae.
    (2) Synthesis of 5-HETE in the non treated H. influenzae group increased from 1 to 3th day, but decreased from 5 to 7th day. Though in the formalin-inactivated group decreased from 1 to 7th day.
    (3) Synthesis of 15-HETE in the both group increased from 1 to 3th day, then decreased 5 to 7th day.
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  • T. Harada, Y. Sakakura, Y. Miyoshi
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 43-45
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Middle ear effusions (MEE) from 20 patients (ages 3 to 14 years) with secretory otitis media were examined. The soluble immune complex was determined at higher level in MEE than the corresponding sera using C1q solid-phase ELISA. The purulent type MEE contained higher level of immune complex compared with the serous type MEE. Free bacterial capsular polysaccharide antigens were identified by counterimmunoelectro-phoresis (CIE). The advantage of the CIE method lies in its ease of performance, rapidity and specificity. The sensitivity of the procedure is high and it is possible to detect 0.03 to 0.50 μg of polysaccharide antigens per milliliter . This analysis revealed Haemophilus influenzae in 3.8% and Streptococcus pneumoniae in 7.7% in MEE, respectively. Heating of the samples to disrupt the immune complexes increased the frequency of positive samples to 23.0% and 23.0%, respectively. Although there was little direct evidence implicating immunological processes in the pathogenesis of secretory otitis media, the circumstantial evidence found in this study suggested that there was an accumulation of the immune complexes in the middle ear environment and the immune complex might mediate an adverse effect.
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  • K. Hozawa, T. Takasaka, M. Takeyama, T. Kikuchi, K. Kawamoto, Y. Shiba ...
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 46-50
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Horseradish peroxidase, type IV (HRP) was injected into the tympanic bullae of seven immuninized chinchillas and twenty immuninized guinea pigs, to take part in the Arthus' reaction in the middle ear cavity. Absorbed HRP interacted with IgG and deposited on the basement membrane as immune complexes. But within 24 hours, these immune complexes were clearly removed from the submucosal space by the infiltrated neutrophiles. Since this period, tympanic cavity was filled with effusion containing exudated cells and desquamated cell debris. These effusion also obstructed the lumen of the eustachian tube and stimulated the mucous secretion, that brought the disturbed ciliary transportation. Under these conditions, it took 10-14 days that tympanogram indicated the disappearence of middle ear effusion. After 3 weeks from the first injection, second injection was underwent. At this time, much exaggerated mucosal responce took place, and lympho-plasmacytic infiltration with follicle was observed. Upon these observation, this animal model was quite resemble to the human secretory otitis media on the tympanographical and clinicopathological point of view. In conclusion, the Arthus' reaction was highly suspected to play a role in the pathogenesis of secretory otitis media.
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  • Part. 3- Analysis of the chemotactic factor in middle ear effusion
    Y. Somekawa, N. Yamanaka, K. Kobayashi, A. Kataura
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 51-53
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    The purpose of this work is to examine the etiologic factor of otitis media with effusion, especially in its chronicity of the inflammation in the middle ear. In the last congress, we have reported the relationship between the chemotactic activity and the cytology of middle ear effusions (MEEs). On the bases of these results, we tried to evaluate the factor with chemotactic activity in MEEs, focusing on immune complex. In this study, MEEs were treated as follows:
    1) Incubation at 56°C for 30 min, 2) Treatment with Protein A bacterial adsorbent, 3) Treatment with Polyethylenglycol, 4) Treatment with anti C3 and C5 antibodies, and 5) No treatment MEEs. By using Boyden chamber method, we evaluate the chemotactic activities in those treated MEEs.
    The result was that MEEs especially with high chemotactic activities were showed marked reduction in their activities. And it is suspected that immune complex may be related to these results.
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  • T. Tono, T. Nagai, T. Morimitsu
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 54-56
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    We reported the surface views of vascular smooth muscle cells and pericytes of modiolar vessels using the trypsin-HCl method in a previous paper. However, as the trypsin-HCl method more or less deforms the angioarchitecture, the conbined method of resin-injection and HCl treatment was applied in the present paper. This method allowed us to not only make clear the relationship between capillary network and spiral ganglion cells but also visualize the wall cytoarchitecture of the inner ear vessels with their characteristic anqioarchitecture intact.
    The tunica media of the common cochlear artery is composed of long smooth muscle cells thickly arranged in circular fashion. The arrangement of smooth muscle cells of the anterior vestibular artery, the posterior vestibular artery, the spiral modiolar artery and its first branch is almost the same in all of these structures, but the length of the cells decreases as the diameter of the arteries decreases.
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  • M. Sakagami, M. Sano, T. Harada, T. Matsunaga
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 57-60
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
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    The permeability of blood vessels of the modiolus, especially cochlear plexus, in rats and guinea pigs has been studied ultrastructually by tracer experiments with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Extravasation of intravenously injected HRP spread into intercellular spaces, but not outside the cochlear plexus. The capillary endothelium showed fenestrae with single-layered diaphragm, high distribution of labelled pinocytotic vesicles and penetration of HRP through endothelial tight junctions. On the other hand, blood vessels within the modiolus except for the cochlear plexus did not allow to leak HRP.
    These findings suggest that tight junctions bordering the cochlear plexus play a role in a part of the blood-perilymph barrier, whereas other blood vessels within the modiolus themselves act as the barrier.
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  • Yusuke Watanabe, Tsutomu Nakashima, Yasuyuki Suzuki, Noriyuki Yanagita
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 61-62
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
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    The vein of the cochlear aqueduct (VCAQ) drains labyrinthine blood into jugular vein or dural sinuses. VCAQ receives some venous branches from mucoperiosteum vessels of the middle ear. Effects of acute obstruction of VCAQ on the endocochlear potential (EP) were observed in 14 ears of guinea pigs. Upon acute obstruction of VCAQ, EP did not change in 10 ears. In 4 ears, reversible or irreversible decreases which ranged from 8 to 27 mV were observed. From these experiments, the presence of collateral venous circulation was suggested.
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  • T. Arima, T. Yamamoto, H. Masuda, T. Uemura
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 63-65
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
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    Quick freeze, deep-etch study was done to observe the three-dimentional views of membranes and organelles of stria vascularis. Clathrin basckets of coated vesicles were clearly observed as honey-comb structure, composed of hexagons and pentagons. Most of the basckets were connected to its circumferance by short fibrils. It was seemed that the fibrils had some roles in vesicular transport in marginal cells. Microtubular bundles of cytoplasmic protrusions at base of marginal cells were also observed. Any linking-fibrils between microtubules were not seen in this portion. Many gap junctions were also observed between marginal cells, intermediate cells and basal cells. In some replcas, we observed many protrusions on PS face adjoining the EF face of gap junction.
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  • Y. Oka, Y. Ishizuka, A. Kodama, M. Toriyama, T. Ishii
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 66-67
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
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    Under light microscope, the width and the thickness of human stria vascularis were measured. Among 214 cases 386 temporal bones, 20 ears were selected, because they had little artifacts and no abnormal findings in Corti organ and endolyphatic space. Twenty adults temporal bones ranging in age 48 to 75 and 2 new-borned temporal bones were examined at basal turn and middle turn.
    Results were as follows:
    1. The width of stria vascularis at basal turn was 337.1±36.8μ and at middle turn 272.2±39.0μ.
    2. The thickness of stria vascularis at vasal burn was 27.7±6.0μ and at middle turn 29.0±6.3μ.
    3. There was little difference between adults and new-borned baby in width and thickness of stria vascularis.
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  • Sho Hashimoto, Tomonori Takasaka, Kazutomo Kawamoto
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 68-71
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
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    It is supposed that inner hair cells play an important role in hearing mechanisms, but the reports concerning the innervation patterns of inner hair cells are less numerous compared with that of outer hair cells. In this paper, the electron microscopic study on the synaptic relationships between nerve endings and inner hair cells of guinea pig was discussed.
    The afferent endings were 1300-4000 nm in diameter and contained a few vesicles that were 100-150 nm in diameter. Coated vesicles contained within inner hair cells were 50-100 nm in diameter. Junctional specialization such as synapses, coated vesicles, desmosomes and tubular structure was observed. Tubular structure, parallel to the presynaptic membrane accompanied with the postsynaptic membrane thickning, was considered to be one of synaptic specialization.
    The efferent endings were 500-1500 nm in diameter and contained a cluster of vesicles sized 35-50 nm in diameter. Axodendritic synapses between the efferent fibers and the afferent endings were also observed.
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  • Tomonori Takasaka, Sho Hashimoto, Kazutomo Kawamoto
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 72-75
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    The three-dimensional reconstruction of the neural pole at the base of the hair cells is essential to evaluate the transduction mechanism of mechanoacoustic stimuli into electro-neural events.
    To reconstruct the entire arrangements of the nerve endings on outer hair cells (OHC), the serial thick sectioning technique was employed, and the specimens were observed under a high-voltage electron microscope (HVEM) with an accelerating voltage of 1, 000 kV.
    The total number of the nerve endings per cell varied from 9 to 24 in OHC1 and 12 to 17 in OHC2. Both OHC1 and OHC2 were innervated by efferent and afferent endings nerve terminals. Only eight OHC1 out of 16 (50%) possessed predominant number of afferent endings, whereas 100% of the OHC2 had such neural arrangement.
    The total number of OHC1 efferent endings was 120 and afferent endings was 127, indicating that OHC1 in the third cochlear turn were innervated by nearly equal numbers of two types of endings. In the OHC2, however, the total number of efferent endings was 37 and that of afferent endings was 56 in seven cells, showing an average ratio of approximately 5 to 8.
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  • Michio Kobari, Takeo Omata, Jin Ouchi
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 76-79
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
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    A new technique (Block-Surface Technique) for quantative evaluation and easy docummentation of cochlear pathology has been reported by Spoendlin in 1974. The authors used this method in the cochlea of rabbits, and sufficient results were obtained. The surface observation of the organ of Corti from the beginning of the basal turn to the apical turn in the rabbits with the interference contrast of Nomarsky was possible as the report by Spoendlin. And after surface observation of the organ of Corti with the interference contrast of Normarsky the desired place was decided. Then with the transmission electron microscope the authors were able to observe the hair cells which was sectioned with mid-modiolar cut at almost desired place by the author's new method.
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  • Ch. INAGAKI, Y. ORITA
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 80-82
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Morphology of the inner ear in a four-month fetus of Japanese monkey was observed by SEM and the following conclusions were obtained as a result. 1) The organ of Corti had three and a half turns and it was considered that the organ of Corti maturates about four months after gestation from the feature of sensory hairs and third row of Deiters' cells. 2) On undersurface of tectorial membrane, though the imprint of sensory hairs showed a spotted single row in the part of bilateral edge, it showed two or three rows in the central part. 3) In nerve fibers running on the bottom of the tunnel of Corti, there were two kinds of fibers those were quite different in the diameter and the way of running. 4) Sensory hairs of vestibular organs were mature enough and the absorption of otoconia was recognized on the dark cell area in utricle.
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  • Toshishige Kido, Toru Sekitani, Masaaki Hiyoshi, Tetsuyasu Hirata
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 83-86
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
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    Normal development of the otoconia and vestibular sensory cells in the chick embryonal macula utriculi was observed by SEM. Also, the long and short axis of the macula utriculi was measured.
    1. Mature type of otoconia and vestibular sensory cilia were seen in specimens from 11 day embryo (Stage 37). The average length of long axis at this time was 1.00 mm, and its of short axis was 0.74 mm.
    2. Otoconial form was varied considerably to the maturation.
    3. Vestibular sensory cilia on hatch showed mature and immature types. Maturation of the vestibular sensory cilia proceeded from striola to the circumference. The polarity of the vestibular sensory cells was first noticed after 9 days of incubation (Stage 35).
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  • Kazuya Shimada
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 87-89
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
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    The development of the otic capsule and membranous labyrinth in the rats from the 18th day prenatal to the 5th day postnatal was studied.
    The otic capsule was composed of mature cartilage and membranous labyrinth appears as a thickened pseudostratified layer. The epithelium of membranous labyrinth loses its stratification and become a simple columnar epithelium. Ossification of otic capsule was observed at the age of 2 days post natal.
    The cristae ampullaris and macullae utriculi and succuli attain to mature form at the neonate and the greater part of the otic capsule is still consisted of cartilage in rats of 5 days of postnatal.
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  • Masaya Takumida, Nobuharu Tagashira, Yasuo Harada
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 90-93
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
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    There are many studies about development of crista ampullaris using the transmission electron microscope. This study demonstrated the morphological development of the crista ampullaris in the mouse using the scanning electron microscope. Crista ampullaris from the 11.5th gestational day to the 2 weeks postnatal day of CBA/CBA mouse were studied. On the 13.5th gestational day, there were numerous microvilli and primary cilium on the crista ampullaris. Sensory hairs appeared on the 14.5th gestational day. Its kinocilium and stereocilia were short and the length of stereocilia were almost equal. The formation of cupula started on the 14.5th gestational day. It had fine net-work structures.
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  • T. Ishii, M. Takayama, E. Hatanaka
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 94-96
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
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    Melanocytes in the human membranous labyrinth were studied by light microscopy. The melanocytes were distributed in the stria vascularis, modiolus, subepithelial tissues of the endolymphatic sac and dark cell areas of the utricle and ampullae. The stria vascularis, endolymphatic sac and dark cells are known to have active secretory or absorptive functions. In addition, melanocytes were seen to closely surround the capillaries and small blood vessels. These findings suggest that melanocytes can influence inner ear functions.
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  • A. Kodama, M. Ikeda, A. Kitamura, T. Ishii
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 97-99
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
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    The purpose of this study was to gain basic information about the anatomical relationship between the vestibular aqueduct (VA) and the paravestibular aqueduct (PVC) using temporal bones from fetus, newborns and adults. Medial view graphic reconstruction of the VA and PVC was performed in every case for analysis of the VA and PVC. The findings of this study revealed the following new information about the anatomical relationship between the VA and PVC. 1) In the midterm of fetal life, the PVC was not found, but the vein from the vestibule along with the endolymphatic sac was still existed in the VA. 2) At birth, the PVC was formed around the VA. 3) In the temporal bones from the adults, the PVC took similar course in every case with normoplastic VA and also with hyperplastic VA, while the PVC took unusual course in some cases with hypoplastic VA.
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  • K. Kitamura, M. Toriyama
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 100-103
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
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    Intracytoplasmic aggregates of particles are found in the human vestibular ganglion cells. They are always observed in the peripheral area of the cytoplasm whose morphological characteristics are no different from other ganglion cells. These inclusion bodies are round in shape and measure about 1.7μm in maximum diameter. They consist of a porous convoluted dense material and particles. The over-all diameter of 118 randomly selected particles varies from 36nm to 73nm and the mean value is 53nm. Most of the particles are spherical but a few possess a hexagonal or semicircular profile. The particles exhibit a double external membrane or vesiculated external layer. Most of the particles are empty. There are, however, some particles which show vesicular structures in their content. Although our present data are insufficient to determine these particles as virus, their hexagonal shape and size is similar to virus particles. With these data in mind, we might assume that these particles are dormant form of virus and could produce infectious disease in the inner ear.
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  • Ryozo Yabuta, Nobuharu Tagashira, Yasuo Harada
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 104-105
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    The surface areas of the utricular and saccular maculae were measured with a digitizer on SEM micrograph. This was not possible in the lagenar macula because lagenar macula was not a single plane. The hair cell population of three maculae was obtained by counting each hair cell on the micrograph. The results were as follows.: The mean value of the surface area was 0.34mm2 in the utricular macula and 0.24mm2 in the saccular macula. Hair cell population was 9946 in the utricular macula, 2583 in the saccular macula, and 3610 in the lagenar macula. Hair cell density of the utricule was much higher than that of the saccule.
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  • Nobuharu Tagashira, Masaya Takumida, Yasuo Harada, Yoshinori Kikuya
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 106-108
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Vestibular neurosensory epithelia of the guinea pig and the bull frog were investigated by scanning electron microscope. The crista ampullaris or macula were freezecracked and maceration with 0.1% OsO4 solution was added for 24-60 hr. (Osmium-DMSO-Osmium method). Following this method, three dimensional intracellular structures were observed. The mitochondria which exist in the nerve chalice surrounding the type I cell were various, globular, long and slender. Golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum and thin fibrous structures of the sensory cells or supporting cells were clearly demonstrated. Concerning nervous system, afferent and efferent nerve endings, furthermore synaptic structures were also observed stereoscopically.
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  • Yoichi Toriya, Michio Hitaka
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 109-112
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
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    Microtubules present in most living cells and play a great number of roles. Longitudinal and transverse sections were made in the vestibular sensory cells of the guinea pig, and the distribution of microtubules were studied with the electron microscope. The microtubules were especially located in the-apical region of the cell and the microtubules population was much more inportant, in the type I cells than in the type II cells. In the bottom region, microtubules were found. The results indicate that in vestibular sensory cells microtubules are involved in the transmission of apical biochemical changes toward the basal structure.
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  • T. Yoshioka, Y. Harada, W. Tada
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 113-115
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
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    The corrosion casts of the vestibular vessels were observed under the scanning electron microscope. The results were as follows:
    1) The most dense capillary meshes were found in the neuroepithelial areas.
    2) The arterioles are coiled, and then enter the subepithelial capillary meshes near the center of the hair cell area. A radial capillary netwerks are collected into venules at the periphery.
    The present techniqe useful for observation of the three-dimentional structure of the vestibular microcirculation.
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  • H. Masutani, Y. Nakai, K. Ohashi, K. C. Chang, H. Yamane, T. Imoto, K. ...
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 116-118
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
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    Under a scanning electron microscope, microcirculation of the vestibular organ was observed with the corrosion casting technique. The following results were obtained. The anterior vestibular artery (AVA) was distributed to the utriculus, lateral ampulla, superior ampulla and semicircular canal. The dense capillary network was only found below the hair cell areas. The coiling artery or arteriole was found at the central part of the hair cell areas. The blood vessels of the planum semilunatum formed a loop structure like renal tubules. A secretory or absorptive function of the endolymph was suspected in this portion. One or two arterioles run to the semicircular canal without communicating with the crista ampullaris. The blood vessels of this portion run straightforward in the canal and never made a dense capillary network. There were more blood vessels in the intermediate portion than other portion of the endolymphatic sac.
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  • T. Ariki, M. Suzuki, Y. Sugata, Y. Harada
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 119-121
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
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    Extracellular unitary response of isolated posterior ampullary nerve of the frog were recorded. The relation between spontaneous discharge rate and the response pattern for the stimulus of ampullofugal endolymphatic volume displacement was investigated. The response pattern for volume displacement was classified phasic or tonic. In 35 units recorded, 8 units showed phasic response and 27 units responded tonically. Six units out of 8 which showed phasic response had highand regular spontaneous discharge rate and 22 units out of 27 which tonically responded had low on irregular spontaneous discharge rate. And many units which had high and regular spontaneous firing showed complicated response pattern. These results suggest a variety of ampullary nerve network and its distribution pattern among the related receptors.
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  • Calcified Substances of the Tympanic Membrane
    K. Ohsaki, T. Tomotsu, M. Kimura, K. Oouchi
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 122-124
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
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    In two cases of chronic otitis media (COM) (sin) of a 15 yrs old Japanese girl and tympanosclerosis (TS) (dex) of a 34 yrs old Japanese male, construction of tympanic membrane calcified substances, collected in tympanoplasty, was analyzed and compared at the molecular level, using laser-Raman spectroscopy. Results are shown below: 1) v1 (PO43-) of hydroxylapatite (HOAP) was sharp in TS and broard in COM. 2) The intensity of v1 (PO43-) was used as the internal standard. Theintensity of CO32-, org. comp. and amide compared with the intensity of v1 (PO43-), respectively. These ratios showed lower values in TS than in COM. According to the results, it is suggested that the calcified substance in TS may have the nearer construction to HOAP. We proposed the following hypothesis concerning to the mechanism of calcified substance formation in both diseases. In the process of calcified substance formation in the TS, the nearer construction to HOAP may be formed from the beginning of disease and/or calcified substance may be transformed into the nearer substance to HOAP by changing over a period of several years.
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  • T. Sugita, Y. Honda
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 125-126
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    We established epithelial cell lines derived from epithelium of Pars flaccida, Pars tensa, and external auditory canal of rabbits of 2 months. The cell lines have following characters; 1. They are grown in growth medium. 2. If they are inhibited of proliferation by contact inhibition, a number of fatty droplets, appear in the cytoplasm. 3. Those fatty droplets disappear when inoculated, while they are enhanced by an addition of insulin (10u/ml) into the growth medium.
    We elucidated the types of lipid droplets by using Iatroscan TH-10. And concerning the mechanism of production of lipid droplets, we collected the low density lipoprotein (LDL) from the plasma of rabbits and cultured these cells in the medium containing LDL.
    Results; 1. The lipid droplet in the cell was cholesterol-ester. 2. The lipid droplet of cytoplasm disappeared when the cells were cultured in the medium containing LDL. We considered that the epithelial cell lines established continues to have the system synthesizing cholesterol.
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  • H. Fujiki, T. Minatogawa, T. Inamori, H. Iritani, T. Kumoi
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 127-129
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Since 1981, allograft tympanoplasties were started in our clinic and the allograft materials were offerd for use by courtesy of the “Hyogo Ear Bank”.
    Allograft tympanic membrane for clinical use was treated in 4% buffered formaldehyde for a week, deepithelized, rinse with a plenty amount of saline, gas sterilized, prefrozen to -70°C and was then freeze-dried for 5 days.
    As the first step, using the human and cat tympanic membrane, histologic change of allograft tympanic membrane was studied with microscopic and SEM observation in different stage of above mentioned treatment. The following results were obtained. 1. The more the preparation proceeds, the more the middle layer of tympanic membrane became loose and thin. 2. The same is true that the gaps between each of 3 layers (epithelial, middle and mucosal) were widened as the treatment proceeds. These results suggest that deepithelization can be more easily done after 4% buffered formaldehyde treatment, and also the loose connective layer of the allograft tympanic membrane can easily allow the host's fibroblast and blood vessels to growing in.
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  • Kazuo Matsui, Michinari Okamoto, Takeyuki Sanbe, Yuji Katayama, Mamoru ...
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 130-131
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    It is thought that bullous myringitis result from infection of virus. In 6 cases, Influenza Virus A. B. in serum were examined, but we could not proved the infection of virus. The reports for histopathological findings of bullous myringitis are rare. We observed fragments biopsied from the bullous lesion on the tympanic membrane for 3 cases of bullous myringitis. We knew the bulla was formed in stratum cutaneum of tympanic membrane. But we could not found the typical proof of infection of virus in histopathological findings.
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  • F. Hiraide, H. Harada, S. Nishizawa, S. Hosokawa, T. Inouye, Steven K. ...
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 132-134
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    The mucosal epithelia of the chinchilla middle ear in normal and experimented conditions were investigated by means of scanning electron microscope. In the normal middle ear cilia-bearing cells were frequently found around the tympanic orifice of the eustachian tube and the anterior parts of the tympanic bulla. Most of epithelial cells in the tympanic cavity were non-ciliated. In the middle ear mucosa after blocking the eustachian tube the density and the secretory activity of goblet cells were increased. There were a considerable number of small pores among epithelial cells, through which inflammatory cells and mucous fluid-like substances came out. A varying degree of metaplasia was noted in the middle ear epithelia of experimented animals.
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  • Taku YAGI, Hiroshi OKAMURA, Naoaki YANAGIHARA
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 135-137
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Secretory otitis media was induced in guinea pig by obliterating the Eustachian tube. On the third and fifth day of the experiment, mucosa of the middle ear was removed and studied by transmission electronmicroscopy.
    On the third day, the secretory cell showed the following marked changes; widened intercellular spaces, cellulicidal degeneration of the secretory cells, extrusion of the entire cell bodies into the middle ear cavity, growth of the immature secretory cells where the degenerated secretory cells were extruded. On the other hand, little degenerative change of the ciliated cells was noted.
    On the fifth day, increase of goblet cells with numerous ligth granules and growth of secretory cells at the widened intercellular spaces was observed.
    The extrusion of secretory cells and the neogenesis of goblet cells were characteristic in the early stages of secretory otitis media of the guinea pig.
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  • Yoshiharu Igarashi, Akira Kodama, Jun-Ichi Suzuki, Yoshimi Oka, Yoichi ...
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 138-140
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    The purpose of this investigation was to observe the morphological change of human middle ear mucosa taken at the middle ear operations for fifteen cases of chronic otitis media or cholesteatoma by electron microscope, and also to determine the possibility and degree of normalization of post-inflammatory middle ear mucosa taken at the second staged operations.
    A statement of the conclusions reached as follows;
    1. Various stages of inflammatory change were observed in mucosal layer. This variety was also noted in an ear, depending on the location of main pathology.
    2. Regeneration of chronically diseased middle ear mucosa was observed in cases that were found to have well aerated and ventilated middle ears after the previousoperations.
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  • H. Harada, S. Nishizawa, F. Hiraide, T. Inouye
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 141-143
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Otitis media with effusion was induced in guinea pigs by cobalt60 irradiation. Vascular permeability of the middle ear mucosa was observed by Majno's vascular labelling technique. The pathological change of the middle ear was examined under light microscope. Vascular permeability was increased at three days after 4000 rad irradiation and small vessels were labelled with carbon particles. At seven days after irradiation, carbon labelling of small vessels was more extensive and extravascular blackening was present. Edematous change of the middle ear mucosa and metaplasia of the epithelial cells were also observed. New bone formation of the tympanic bulla was increased by repeated irradiations.
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  • S. Nishizawa, F. Hiraide, H. Harada, T. Inouye
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 144-146
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
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    The guinea pigs with normal tympanic membrane and preyer reflex were received 40 Gy 60Co to the eustachian tube under pentbarbital anesthesia. They were decapitated immediately after irradiation, 3, 6, 12, 24, 72 hours, 7, 14, 28 days, and 2 months. After fixation, drying, and coating, the mucosa of the guinea pig ears was determined by means of scanning electron microscope.
    Of 3 hours animals, only a slight activating of mucous secretion was noticed in goblet cells, and it was more remarkably noticed in 3 days animals. A swelling of the mucous membrane of the labyrinthine bulla neighbouring the tympanic orifice was found in 6 hours animals, and it fairly reached the surface of the cochlea and closed the tympanic orifice of the eustachian tube in 3 days animals. There were spherical knobs on the top of a few short-cilia-bearing cell in 3 days animals. In 2 months animals, a few candle flame shaped knobs were found on the non-ciliated cell, and there were waterdrop shaped knobs on the middle to the top of the cilia.
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  • M. Sugita, Y. Nakai, H. Masutani, K. Ohashi, M. Muraoka, K. Maruoka
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 147-149
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    We observed the microvascular structure of the middle ear mucosa in normal and otitis media by SEM.
    (1) Normal middle ear mucosa; The vascular net of the normal middle ear around the annulus indicated two layers. The blood vessels of the outer layer was narrower and less anastomosis than that of the inner layer. Otherwise the inner layer had netted blood vessels.
    (2) Otitis media by staphylococcus aureus; Advance of inflammation caused the dilatation, hyperplasia or abnormal arrangements of the blood vessels in middle ear mucosa around the annulus. But the net of cochlear wall had much more changes than the other portion.
    It was strongly suggested that changes of netted blood vessels in otitis media appeared most early and highly in the lower portion of the cochlear wall.
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  • H. Moriyama, C. C. Huang, Maxwell Abramson
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 150-152
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Laminaria, a hygroscopic seaweed material, was capable of absorbing fluid, and gradually swelled up to four times its diameter within 24 hours. Laminaria was used to induce pressure within the rat tympanic cavity. Resorption of bulla and cochlear walls occurred in all animals within two weeks. Preswelled laminaria inserted in the same area induced minimal bone resorption after two and three weeks. We also studied the effect of indomethacin, a specific inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, on bone resorption induced by physical force. In animals given indomethacine following insertion of laminaria, both granulation tissue formation and bone resorption were inhibited. Acid phosphatase activity appeared localized in the inflammatory granulation tissue in the bone resorption area, especially in osteoclasts, mononuclear cells and fibroblasts. Results of this study suggested that pressure created by laminaria caused bone resorption by stimulating osteoclasts and granulation tissue through biochemichal events. Pressure did not cause bone resorption directly.
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  • H. Ikarashi, A. Imai, S. Takahashi, S. Torii, S. Hasagawa, Y. Nakano
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 153-156
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
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    In the previous repert, it was described that the development of the air cell system of tympanic bulla in pigs was inhibited as a result of the decrease of bone resorption in cortex under the condition of chronic middle ear inflammation. We have further studied about the effect of acute inflammation which was produced by the inoculation with pneumococci in middle ear cleft, following the injection of alycerin, on the development of air cell system and also studied about the effect of antibioties on such the inflammation.
    In spite of the use of antibiotics, the produced inflammation was chronic and the inhibition of air cell system appeared later in all cases and the size of tympanic bulla itself reduced in some case. An extent of the inhibition was as same as our previous report, so the effect of the inoculation with pneumococci was not recognized.
    The reduction of bone resorption was not recognized at the beginning of inflammation, therefore the inhibition must be induced when the inflammation continued persistently for some long time. And it was thought that the inflammation suppressed not only bone resorption but also bone formation.
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  • M. Kitajiri, I. Sando, William J. Doyle, Yoshie Hashida
    1984 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 157-160
    Published: 1984
    Released on J-STAGE: August 11, 2011
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    The middle ear, and the bony and cartilaginous portions of the Eustachian tube were studied histopathologically in 20 temporal bones of 19 infants aged 45 minutes to 12 months. Otitis media (OM) was more severe in the ears of cleft palate infants and was found in 17 of 20 bones studied. 16 of 17 bones with OM also had effusion present. Inflammation was present in the bony portion of the Eustachian tube in 15 of 17 bones with OM, but appeared to be less marked than that present in the middle ear. Inflammation of the cartilaginous portion of the Eustachian tube also appeared to be less severe than in the bony portion of the tube. Inflammation of the middle ear and the Eustachian tube appeared more pronounced in older infants, especially in those with cleft palate.
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