Structure and Innervation of Inner Ear Sensory Epithelia in the European Eel ( Anguilla anguilla L.)

• Published in: Acta Zoologica
• Main Author: Mathiesen, Carsten
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1984
• Subjects: Anguilla anguilla
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-6395.1984.tb01041.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1463-6395.1984.tb01041.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1463-6395.1984.tb01041.x

Abstract Hair cell orientations of all inner ear sensory epithelia in glass eel, yellow eel and silver eel are presented. The patterns of hair cell orientation do not change with age. All sensory epithelia increase in area during growth of the eel. Examination of the hair cell population in macula utriculi show constant hair cell densities and increased hair cell population during development. Further, regional differences in hair cell densities and hair cell types are observed. The hair cells/axons ratio increases 3‐fold from glass eel to silver eel stadium. Nerve stainings in silver eel reveal complex innervation patterns with large stubby fibres confined to restricted regions. Histograms of nerve fiber diameters show marked differences from glass eel to silver eel. Growth of sensory epithelia is discussed.