Morphological changes in afferent vestibular hair cell synapses during the postnatal development of the cat.
In the course of postnatal development in the cat, there is a decrease of about 93% in the total number of synaptic bodies (synaptic balls and synaptic bars) in type I hair cells. In type II hair cells, there is no change in the number of synaptic balls. Simultaneously, the length of specialized neuroepithelial contact increases by approximately 300% during type I hair cell maturation. Only the synaptic bars displaying a polylamellar ultrastructure persist in the type I hair cells of the adult animal. It is suggested that the afferent vestibular synapses of the type I hair cell are transformed during ontogeny.
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006199:Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013569:Synapses / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000648:ultrastructure