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Otolith

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Regenerative Medicine for the Inner Ear

Abstract

Otoliths or otoconia are located on the otolithic or otoconial membrane of both the utricle and the saccule. The utricle and the saccule detect linear acceleration in the horizontal and vertical planes, respectively. The otoconial membrane is divided into three layers: the subcupular meshwork, the gelatinous layer, and the otoconial layer. Otoconia are embedded in the loose filament network of the otoconial layer. Numerous proteins and genes are known to be related to otolith and otoconium formation. Otoconin 90 is the main core glycoprotein of otoconia for mammals and birds. Alpha-tectorin is needed for the normal formation of both the gelatinous layer and the otoconia as a whole. Otogelin and otoancorin provide instructions for the assembly and adhesion of the otoconial membrane proteins to the sensory epithelium. Factors affecting the structure of otoliths include drugs such as aminoglycosides, aging, and hypergravity. The interdependence of otoconia and semicircular canals is suggested, indicating the unrecognized importance of otoconia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan

    Yosuke Tona & Akiko Taura

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  1. Yosuke Tona
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  2. Akiko Taura
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Correspondence to Yosuke Tona .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan

    Juichi Ito

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Tona, Y., Taura, A. (2014). Otolith. In: Ito, J. (eds) Regenerative Medicine for the Inner Ear. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54862-1_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54862-1_8

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo

  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-54861-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-54862-1

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