Three-dimensional reconstruction of C57BL/6 mouse inner ear during development.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the three-dimensional (3-D) morphological characteristics of the complicated inner ear development of the C57BL/6 mouse.


METHODS
Specimens of C57BL/6 mouse embryos on days E7.5, E8.5, E9.5, E10.5, E11.5, E12.5 and E14.5 were collected and sectioned serially in this experiment. After hematoxylin and eosin staining, parts of the inner ear were pictured under the microscope with specific positional control. Using the protocol of 3D-DOCTOR software, we outlined the inner ear margin including the inner and extra face in different colors and put them into the 3-D program to reconstruct the 3-D model.


RESULTS
3-D models of the E9.5, E10.5, E11.5, E12.5 and E14.5 inner ear were obtained and proved to be fine. Different parts of the inner ear were shown clearly in different colors in the 3-D model and significant morphological changes of the inner ear were shown during development between E9.5 and E14.5.


CONCLUSIONS
The new technology of 3-D reconstruction is a useful and important tool to directly observe the complex development of the inner ear, and the development between E9.5 and E14.5 has been proved by the 3-D model to be the most complex and important period of the development of the C57BL/6 mouse inner ear.
Chi
Fang-Lu
FL
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China. chifanglu@yahoo.com.cn
Han
Zhao
Z
Dai
Pei-Dong
PD
Huang
Yi-Bo
YB
Cong
Ning
N
Li
Wen
W
D000818:Animals; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000196:embryology*; D004475:Ectoderm / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008867:Microtomy; D023421:Models, Animal; D011247:Pregnancy; D012984:Software; D013194:Staining and Labeling