Prenatal development of the cochlea in albino rat

ABSTRACT

Thirty-six rat embryos were used in this study. The development of the cochlea from the 10th day of gestation to full term was recorded. The developing cochlear duct started coiling at the 12th embryonic day and reached its final coiling by the 19th day. The cochlear duct epithelium of the basal coil started differentiation at the 15th gestational day, and matured to inner hair cells, tunnel of Corti and outer hair cells at the 17th day. Differentiation proceeded from the basal to the apical coil. Innervation of the sensory epithelium was found to follow its cytodifferentation The limbus spiralis and the stria vascularis started development at the 17th gestational day but were still immature at full term