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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 Apr 1.
Published in final edited form as: Mamm Genome. 2015 Feb 3;26(0):154–172. doi: 10.1007/s00335-015-9556-0

Figure 4.

Figure 4

SEM micrographs of utricles and saccules from C57 and A/J mice. Note co-existence of giant and normal otoconia in the A/J saccule. Otoconial dysgenesis was present in neonates (B, F, D, H) as well as adults (J, K). Overall, A/J otoconia (B, D, J & K) are less numerous than C57 controls (A, C), and the abnormality is more severe in the utricle. The saccular otoconia can appear normal but often evidence major defects (B, F). A/J utricles often have a few, large or giant crystals (D (arrows), J and K). The giant otoconia appear to be composed of numerous fused crystals under higher magnification (F, H vs. E, G). The middle panels (E, F, G, H) are higher magnification of the lower regions in the respective upper panels. Calibration bars are 50 microns for A, B, C & D;; 5 microns for E, F, G & H, 300 microns for I and 200 microns for J & K. Red arrows in lower right of C & D indicate directions for anterior and lateral.