Histological examination of structural changes in the cochlear canal
Esra Balcıoğlu1, Pınar Bilgici1, Betül Yalçın1, Arzu Hanım Yay1, Demet Bolat1, Ayşe Ceyhan3, Mehmet Akif Somdaş2
1Erciyes Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Histoloji ve Embriyoloji Anabilim Dalı, Kayseri, Türkiye
2Erciyes Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Kulak Burun Boğaz Anabilim Dalı, Kayseri, Türkiye
3Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa Üniversitesi, Sağlık Hizmetleri Meslek Yüksek Okulu, Patoloji Laboratuvar Teknikleri Programı, Kayseri, Türkiye
Keywords: Cochlea, light microscope, organ of Corti.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to determine the morphological changes in the organ of Corti in the basal, medial, and apical regions of the cochlear canal, which exhibit a complex structure.
METHODS: A total of eight male Wistar albino rats (35 days, 200 to 250 g) were decapitated under anesthesia. The organ of Corti was quickly removed and fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution for histological examination. The tissues were, then, taken to decalcification solution. Following dehydration and clearing, they were embedded in paraffin. Sections were stained with hematoxylin & eosin and Masson's trichrome, and photographs were captured using a light microscope. To determine the structural changes in the organ of Corti, basilar, tectorial, and Reissner membrane lengths, and heights of inner and outer hair cells were measured from 50 different areas using the Image J software and the data obtained were statistically evaluated.
RESULTS: It was determined that from the basal to the apex of the cochlea; the thickness of the basement membrane and the length of the Reissner's membrane decreased, while the length of the inner and outer hair cells and the length of the basement membrane increased. These increases and decreases were statistically significant (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION: Our study results suggest that the lengths of inner and outer hair cells, basilar, and Reissner membrane can vary from basal to apical region of the cochlea.