Aberrant elemental composition of otoconia in the dancer mouse mutant with a semidominant gene causing a morphogenetic type of inner ear defect.
The elemental composition of otoconia from Jerker and Dancer mouse mutants was analysed in both maculae. A normal elemental content was found in otoconia from Jerker mutants, whereas in the Dancer mutant a large number of otoconia from both maculae contained very high concentrations of phosphorus. In these otoconia, the phosphorus calcium ratio was approximately 1:8, in Jerker (and normal) otoconia approximately 1:150-200. However, otoconia from Dancer mutants occurred with also a normal elemental composition. The increasing content of phosphorus in otoconia may possibly indicate an early onset of aging, i.e. corresponding to a phosphatization process as described in aging human otoconia.
Anniko
M
M
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Umeå University Hospital, Sweden.
Wenngren
B I
BI
Wróblewski
R
R
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008818:Mice, Neurologic Mutants / Q000235:genetics*; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000032:analysis*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis*; D012444:Saccule and Utricle / Q000032:analysis*
D010758:Phosphorus; D002118:Calcium