The effect of prolonged exposure to hypergravity on the morphology of vestibular epithelia of rats was investigated. At the age of 1 month, i.e., when vestibular end organs are fully maturated, three rats were transferred to a hypergravity environment of 2.5 g inside a large radius centrifuge. After 9 months, vestibular epithelia of these animals and of three control animals were immunohistoche...

Retinoid binding proteins and nuclear receptors are expressed in the developing mouse inner ear. Here, we report that the retinaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (Raldh2) gene, whose product is involved in the enzymatic generation of retinoic acid (RA), exhibits a restricted expression pattern during mouse inner ear ontogenesis. The Raldh2 gene is first expressed at embryonic day (E) 10.5 in a V-shaped m...

Laryngoceles are abnormal dilatations of the laryngeal saccule, which rises between the ventricular folds, the base of the epiglottis and the inner surface of the thyroid cartilage. Clinical symptoms are rare, and the find of asymptomatic laryngoceles in pathology studies are frequent. Sometimes it is presented as cervical swelling causing airway obstruction in need of emergency intervention. I...

We report the case of a 54-year-old woman who presented for evaluation of deterioration in her voice and swallowing function, which had begun after she had undergone a medialization laryngoplasty for unilateral vocal fold paralysis. Findings on examination and imaging revealed that a mass had developed adjacent to the Silastic implant that had been placed during the laryngoplasty. The superior ...

Laryngocoeles are rare cystic dilatations of the laryngeal ventricle. Obstruction of its outlet can cause entrapment of mucus and superimposed infection causes a laryngopyocoele. Such presentations, although rare, have potential to cause airway obstruction. A 67-year-old lady presented with a one-week history of hoarseness and shortness of breath. On examination, she was stridulous and had full...

The most common syndromic form of hereditary SNHL, Pendred syndrome (PS) was described by Pendred in 1896. The condition is autosomal recessive, and affected individuals also have goiter. The prevalence of PS is estimated at 7.5 to 10 per 100,000 individuals, suggesting that the syndrome may account for 10% of hereditary deafness. The hearing loss is usually congenital and severe to profound, a...

Hair cells are specialized sensory epithelial cells found in the inner ear (Figure1a). Inmammals, the inner ear contains the coiled cochlea as well as the vestibular apparatus, which includes two otolith organs (the utricle and the saccule) and three semicircular canals. The cochlea and the components of the vestibular apparatus are interconnected by fluid-filled tubes that are circular and con...

The fast-start escape response is critically important to avoid predation, and axial movements driving it have been studied intensively. Large median dorsal and anal fins located near the tail have been hypothesized to increase acceleration away from the threat, yet the contribution of flexible median fins remains undescribed. To investigate the role of median fins, C-start escape responses of ...

Successful prey capture by aquatic suction feeders depends on the ability of the predator to generate a flow of water external to the mouth that overcomes any movements and forces that the prey uses to resist the suction flow. Elucidating the nature and magnitude of these forces is a key to understanding what limits suction feeding performance. We identify three potential forces produced by the...