Utricular otoconia of some amphibians have calcitic morphology.
This report concerns the morphological features of otoconia removed from the inner ear of four amphibian species. Results from scanning electron microscopic examination are compared based on the site of origin. These results show that utricular otoconia have a mineral structure that mimics calcite, rather than the widely accepted idea that they are mineralized by calcium carbonate of the aragonite polymorph.
Pote
K G
KG
Department of Otolaryngology and Communications Disorders, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Ross
M D
MD
D000558:Ambystoma mexicanum / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000663:Amphibians / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000818:Animals; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000032:analysis*; D004712:Endolymphatic Sac / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009673:Notophthalmus viridescens / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000737:chemistry; D011894:Rana pipiens / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000033:anatomy & histology
D002119:Calcium Carbonate