[Transmission electron microscopy of the tegmentum vasculosum in chick inner ear].
OBJECTIVE
To study the ultrastructure of the tegmentum vasculosum(TV) in chick inner ear so as to obtain important information for its physiology and pathology.


METHODS
The ultrastructures of TV in 20 chicks were observed by transmission electron microscope(TEM).


RESULTS
TV was composed of flask-shaped dark cells, which had dense cytoplasm; hourglass-shaped light cells, which had light cytoplasm; abundant microvascula. Dark cell had the extensive networks of folded plasma membrane along the side and throughout the lower half of the cell, these folds of dark cell interdigitated with thin processes which extended from the lateral walls of light cell, these were sparse microvilli on the luminal surface of light cell and sparse cellular organizations in light cell. Light cell had more direct contacts with the micrangium.


CONCLUSIONS
TV is very similar to stria vascularis but there are also some differences between them under TEM.
Yu
Z
Z
Beijing Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Beijing 100005.
Wang
J
J
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000098:blood supply / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D017348:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Transmission; D013680:Tectorial Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure*