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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
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Preparation of the Rat Vocal Fold for Neuromuscular Analyses
Published on: May 15, 2020
Postnatal development of rat vocal folds
Tomoko Tateya1, Ichiro Tateya, Alejandro Munoz-del-Rio
1Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
The Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology
|April 1, 2006
Summary
A rat model effectively simulates postnatal vocal fold (VF) development, showing changes in the macula flava (MF) and highlighting vitamin A
Area of Science:
- Vocal fold histology
- Developmental biology
- Animal modeling
Background:
- Postnatal vocal fold development requires detailed study.
- Establishing reliable animal models is crucial for understanding vocal fold (VF) development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of using a rat model for studying postnatal vocal fold (VF) development.
Main Methods:
- Histological analysis of rat vocal folds at 3 days, 3 weeks, and 8 months old.
- Staining techniques included Alcian blue, elastin-van Gieson, Oil Red O, gold chloride, and immunohistochemistry for vimentin and collagen types I and III.
Main Results:
- The macula flava (MF) showed developmental changes in cell morphology and extracellular matrix composition.
- Vimentin-positive cells in the MF exhibited age-dependent shape and cytoplasmic changes, mirroring human development.
- Vitamin A-containing lipid droplets appeared in the MF by 3 weeks of age, indicating a role in vocal fold maturity.
Conclusions:
- The rat model is suitable for investigating vocal fold development.
- Vitamin A is implicated in the maturation process of the vocal folds.
