title: Micro-optical coherence tomography of the mammalian cochlea.
abstract: The mammalian cochlea has historically resisted attempts at high-resolution, non-invasive imaging due to its small size, complex three-dimensional structure, and embedded location within the temporal bone. As a result, little is known about the relationship between an individual's cochlear pathology and hearing function, and otologists must rely on physiological testing and imaging methods that offer limited resolution to obtain information about the inner ear prior to performing surgery. Micro-optical coherence tomography (μOCT) is a non-invasive, low-coherence interferometric imaging technique capable of resolving cellular-level anatomic structures. To determine whether μOCT is capable of resolving mammalian intracochlear anatomy, fixed guinea pig inner ears were imaged as whole temporal bones with cochlea in situ. Anatomical structures such as the tunnel of Corti, space of Nuel, modiolus, scalae, and cell groupings were visualized, in addition to individual cell types such as neuronal fibers, hair cells, and supporting cells. Visualization of these structures, via volumetrically-reconstructed image stacks and endoscopic perspective videos, represents an improvement over previous efforts using conventional OCT. These are the first μOCT images of mammalian cochlear anatomy, and they demonstrate μOCT's potential utility as an imaging tool in otology research.
authors.affiliation: Eaton-Peabody Laboratories and Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, 243 Charles St, Boston, MA, USA.|Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA, USA.|Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, 1350 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Janani S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Iyer
authors.affiliation: Eaton-Peabody Laboratories and Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, 243 Charles St, Boston, MA, USA.|Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Shelley A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Batts
authors.affiliation: Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 50 Blossom St, Boston, MA, USA.|Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Kengyeh K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Eaton-Peabody Laboratories and Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, 243 Charles St, Boston, MA, USA.|Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Mehmet I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.affiliation: Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 50 Blossom St, Boston, MA, USA.|Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Hui Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 50 Blossom St, Boston, MA, USA.|Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Guillermo J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Tearney
authors.affiliation: Eaton-Peabody Laboratories and Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, 243 Charles St, Boston, MA, USA.|Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA, USA.|Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, 1350 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Konstantina M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Stankovic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007760:Labyrinth Supporting Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D009925:Organ of Corti / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D012405:Round Window, Ear / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D012533:Scala Tympani / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D054738:Scala Vestibuli / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*