title: Critique of "an electron microscope study of crystal calcium carbonate formation in the mouse otolith".
abstract: Electron micrographs of otoconia of fetal mice, as obtained by Nakahara and Bevelander, provide morphological evidence that the otoconia consist of both organic material and calcium carbonate (calcite), contrary to their own conclusions. Calcite is an integral component of otoconia, apparently from their inception. The concept of mineralization by calcite of an already developed organic template ("preotolith") is shown to be in error.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000378:metabolism*; D003461:Crystallography; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D002119:Calcium Carbonate