Kinocilia heights on utricular hair cells

Kinocilium height is a critical determinant of any hair cell's response to head movement, but accurate measurements of kinocilia heights have been difficult to achieve. We have developed a method for measuring kinocilia heights that combines immunochemical staining with three-dimensional morphometry, and we have used this method to measure kinocilia in the utricle of a turtle, Pseudemys scripta. Our results suggest that kinocilium height varies with position on the utricular epithelium and that kinocilia in the striola are significantly shorter than kinocilia in other regions of the utricle.