Fig 6.
Interconnections of otoconia shown by SEM and immunogold TEM of otolin. (a) SEM image of adjacent otoconia showing dense fibrillar interconnections. The surface of PN3 day otoconia is covered with meandering fibrils whereas adjacent otoconia are interconnected by thin, tight fibrils; (b) and (c) images of ED18 mouse otoconia; (b) shows gold particles close to surface or within subsurface layer; (c) shows gold particles labeling interotoconial fibrils. (d) and (e) are images of young adult otoconia; (d) gold labeling of corresponding surfaces of otoconia; (e) pair of triplets of gold particles corresponding to interconnecting fibrils; (f) SEM image of otoconial layer of two-year-old mouse. Otoconial surface is denuded and otoconia are arranged in vertical orientation with tips projecting into endolymphatic lumen. Only lower tips of otoconia are loosely attached to the remnants of the fibrogelatinous matrix. Bars = 0.35 μm (a), 0.25 μm (b), 0.35 μm (c), 0.23 μm (d), 0.5 μm (e), 5.5 μm (f).