Figure 2.

Sections of the developing fetal VO between W8 and W12. (A) Glutamine synthetase (GS) expression in the (A) Utricle at W8 in the transitional cells (TC) and the supporting cells of the otic epithelium. (B) Higher magnified view of the framed area in (A) of the TC and neighboring sensory epithelium where the supporting cells exhibit strong GS immunoreactivity while the hair cells are void of staining. (C) Higher power view of the VG from W8 were only the satellite glial cells shows strong GS immunoreactivity. (D) GS immunoreactivity in a crista ampullaris at W10 were the TC and supporting cells in the sensory epithelium (open arrow) are positive for this marker. Non-myelinating Schwann cells (arrows) under the ampullary organs also show immunoreactivity for this marker. (E) GS in the neurons at W12. Strong immunoreactivity is visible in the satellite glial cells at this stage. (F) MAF B immunoreactivity is present in a subpopulation of VG cells at W8. (G) MAF B again stains nuclei in a subpopulation of ganglion cells in a manner reminiscent of W8. Scale bar: 50 μm (A), 10 μm (B,C), and 12 μm (D–G).