Biomaterial Database

Postnatal maturation of human spiral ganglion cells: light and electron microscopic observations. 1993

C M Chiong, and B J Burgess, and J B Nadol

Department of Otolaryngology, Sunnybrook Health Science Center, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The presence of two types of ganglion cells, based on cell size and other morphologic parameters, is well established in the adult mammalian and human spiral ganglion. On the other hand, there is little data concerning cell morphology in the neonatal spiral ganglion. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the differences in the morphometry and distribution of cell types in the spiral ganglion of the human neonate as compared to the adult. A total of five human temporal bones from two neonates and three infants were included in this study. Light microscopic analysis of all specimens was performed, and electron microscopic evaluation of a 14 day old neonatal spiral ganglion was accomplished. The segmental density of spiral ganglion cells was higher in the neonate than in the adult. The prevalence of type II spiral ganglion cells was higher in the neonate than has been reported in the adult, particularly in the middle and apical turns where type II cells constituted 24% and 26% of all ganglion cells, respectively. The prevalence of type II ganglion cells decreased with age, particularly in the middle and apical turns. In the neonate, the maximal cross sectional area of type I neurons increased from the base to the apex and seemed to increase with age especially in the basal turn. The present study strongly supports a clear differentiation of type I and type II ganglion cells in the human neonate and that the prevalence of type II cells is greater in the neonate than the adult. This finding is discussed with reference to postnatal development of the spiral ganglion.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D008853	Microscopy	The use of instrumentation and techniques for visualizing material and details that cannot be seen by the unaided eye. It is usually done by enlarging images, transmitted by light or electron beams, with optical or magnetic lenses that magnify the entire image field. With scanning microscopy, images are generated by collecting output from the specimen in a point-by-point fashion, on a magnified scale, as it is scanned by a narrow beam of light or electrons, a laser, a conductive probe, or a topographical probe.	Compound Microscopy,Hand-Held Microscopy,Light Microscopy,Optical Microscopy,Simple Microscopy,Hand Held Microscopy,Microscopy, Compound,Microscopy, Hand-Held,Microscopy, Light,Microscopy, Optical,Microscopy, Simple
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D009925	Organ of Corti	The spiral EPITHELIUM containing sensory AUDITORY HAIR CELLS and supporting cells in the cochlea. Organ of Corti, situated on the BASILAR MEMBRANE and overlaid by a gelatinous TECTORIAL MEMBRANE, converts sound-induced mechanical waves to neural impulses to the brain.	Basilar Papilla,Corti's Organ,Spiral Organ,Corti Organ,Cortis Organ,Organ, Corti's,Organ, Spiral,Organs, Spiral,Papilla, Basilar,Spiral Organs
D002452	Cell Count	The number of CELLS of a specific kind, usually measured per unit volume or area of sample.	Cell Density,Cell Number,Cell Counts,Cell Densities,Cell Numbers,Count, Cell,Counts, Cell,Densities, Cell,Density, Cell,Number, Cell,Numbers, Cell
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013136	Spiral Ganglion	The sensory ganglion of the COCHLEAR NERVE. The cells of the spiral ganglion send fibers peripherally to the cochlear hair cells and centrally to the COCHLEAR NUCLEI of the BRAIN STEM.	Ganglion of Corti,Auditory Ganglion,Spiral Ganglia,Auditory Ganglions,Ganglia, Spiral,Ganglion, Auditory,Ganglion, Spiral,Ganglions, Auditory
D048429	Cell Size	The quantity of volume or surface area of CELLS.	Cell Volume,Cell Sizes,Cell Volumes,Size, Cell,Sizes, Cell,Volume, Cell,Volumes, Cell