title: Observation of the morphology and calcium content of vestibular otoconia in rats after simulated weightlessness.
abstract: Reduction in bone formation may have been the main reason for the lower calcium content of the otoconia after simulated weightlessness in rats. The head-ward distribution of blood volume may explain the morphological changes observed in the middle and inner ears. To observe morphological changes in the vestibular organs and measure the calcium content of otoconia in rats after simulated weightlessness. We used a tail suspension model of simulated weightlessness and then investigated changes in the vestibular organs using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis. In comparison to untreated rats, the vestibular otoconia of the rats subjected to simulated weightlessness were small, irregularly shaped or fissured, and were arranged loosely and out of order. In addition, the calcium content of the otoconia was markedly decreased.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Second Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jiangping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhenhui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Miaoli
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xianghong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Junrong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Qing Yin
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis*; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D019417:Hindlimb Suspension; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012444:Saccule and Utricle / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D013199:Stapes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium