title: Neurotrophic interactions during in vitro development of the inner ear.
abstract: The objective of this study was to explore the hypothesis that developing labyrinthine sensory receptors attract ingrowing neurites by chemotaxis. Cocultured otic explants which shared a single statoacoustic nerve (VIIIn) ganglion were explanted from 11-, 12.5-, and 14-day-old mouse embryos. Heterotypic ganglion explants consisted of 12-day-old otic explants which had their VIIIn replaced by a 10.5-day-old trigeminal nerve (Vn) ganglion. All cultures were grown to the equivalent of 20 days of gestation. Neurites of the (+) VIIIn explants grew into the sensory areas of both the (+) and (-) VIIIn cocultured explants. Neurites of the 14-day-old cocultured otic explants were only found in association with sensory areas within the (+) VIIIn explant. Neurites of nerve V of the heterotypic ganglion explants were found in association with the sensory areas of these otic explants. These results support the hypothesis that a limited period of chemotaxis (nonspecific in nature) is a possible mechanism for the establishment of the pattern of neurite ingrowth to the areas of the inner ear sensory receptors.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002633:Chemotaxis; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000294:innervation; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000196:embryology; D000159:Vestibulocochlear Nerve / Q000196:embryology