BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Nowdays, numbers of patient who suffers from inner ear disease are increased and we need to completely understand about inner ear anatomy and embryology. But we have many problems to use human itself as a model, so it is difficult for us to study. Instead of using human as a model, recent days, many doctors use mammalians and birds. In this study, we used chicken embryo as a model whose inner ear was thought to be similar with human's inner ear and we made effort to get inner ear images by light microscope. MATERIALS AND METHOD:We incubated Gallus domesticus in auto-incubator for 12days. In each embryonic day (4th to 12th days), we got the chicken embryo and made paraffin block. Next, with micro-tomb, we made slice section and fixed to slide. Using micro-digital camera system, we took the picture of the inner ear of chicken embryo. RESULTS:We observed the structures of inner ear of chicken embryo from 4th embryonic day to 12th embryonic day. In 4th day and 5th day, we could not get the definite clear image. But from 6th to 12th day, we got the clear images of utricle, saccule, semicircular canals, etc. In several micro-section methods, making oblique coronal section was showed the best images of inner ear. CONCLUSION:This study was the start point of chicken inner ear embryology and anatomy. Hereafter, we should make the deeper study about chicken inner ear with these results and investigate the genetic and extrinsic factors which influence to inner ear disease. So we should solve the fundamental problem of inner ear disease based on this study
Birds ; Chickens* ; Ear, Inner* ; Embryology ; Embryonic Structures* ; Humans ; Labyrinth Diseases ; Paraffin ; Saccule and Utricle ; Semicircular Canals

In order to investigate the expression patterns of the transforming growth factor (TGF)beta isoforms in the internal ear, an immunohistochemical study of rat embryos was performed. Rat embryos were taken on the 13th, 15th, 17th, and 19th day after conception and their internal ears were immunohistochemically stained against TGF beta1, beta2, and beta3. As a result, the 13-day-old embryo showed a very weak positivity to TGF beta1. After the 15th day of pregnancy, no reactivity to TGF beta1 was defected. Immunoreactivity to TGF beta2 was observed from the 15th day of pregnancy throughout the rest of the period. The ampulla of the semicircular canal and the cochlear duct showed a notably strong immunohistochemical reaction. A strong reaction to TGF beta3 was observed on the 15th day of pregnancy. However, no positive reactions were observed thereafter. A strong immunoreactivity was observed especially on the apical cytoplasms, the surfaces of the epithelial cells, and basement membranes of the cochlear duct, as well as the semicircular canals of the developing internal ear of rat embryo.
Animals ; Ear, Inner/embryology/*metabolism ; Embryo/embryology/*metabolism ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Time Factors ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/*biosynthesis

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are the largest subfamily of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, and they play important roles in the development of numerous organs, including the inner ear. The inner ear is a relatively small organ but has a highly complex structure and is involved in both hearing and balance. Here, we discuss BMPs and BMP signaling pathways and then focus on the role of BMP signal pathway regulation in the development of the inner ear and the implications this has for the treatment of human hearing loss and balance dysfunction.
Body Patterning ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors/physiology* ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins/physiology* ; Cell Differentiation ; Cochlea/embryology* ; Ear, Inner/embryology* ; Hedgehog Proteins/physiology* ; Humans ; Signal Transduction/physiology* ; Smad Proteins/physiology* ; Vestibule, Labyrinth/embryology* ; Wnt Signaling Pathway

Inner ear malformations are anomalies linking to development insults at different periods of embryogenesis,which are common causes of congenital sensorineural hearing loss. The evaluation of pediatric sensorineural hearing loss mostly depends on high-resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, which can excellently depict the temporal bones and inner ear malformations.
Ear, Inner ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; embryology ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; congenital ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Temporal Bone ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed