Dissection of the Endolymphatic Sac from Mice

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Developmental Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Significant progress has been made in understanding the cochlea and vestibula.
• The endolymphatic sac's development, cellular makeup, molecular pathways, and function remain poorly understood.
• The endolymphatic sac is challenging to study due to its delicate, single-cell-layer structure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present novel methods for accessing and microdissecting the endolymphatic sac in wild-type mice.
• To introduce a transgenic reporter mouse for enhanced visualization and measurement of the endolymphatic sac.
• To facilitate further research into the understudied endolymphatic sac.

Main Methods:

• Microdissection techniques applied to wild-type mouse inner ear specimens at various ages.
• Utilizing a transgenic mouse model engineered with a fluorescent endolymphatic sac.
• Demonstration of dissection on a pendrin-deficient mouse model exhibiting enlarged vestibular aqueduct.

Main Results:

• Successful development of procedures for accessing and microdissecting the endolymphatic sac.
• Introduction of a fluorescent reporter mouse that allows for clear visualization and size determination of the endolymphatic sac with minimal dissection.
• Demonstration of the utility of these methods in both wild-type and specific mutant mouse models.

Conclusions:

• The described microdissection techniques and reporter mouse model significantly improve the ability to study the endolymphatic sac.
• These advancements are expected to accelerate the characterization of the endolymphatic sac's role in inner ear development and disease.
• The reporter mouse serves as a valuable tool for both research and educational purposes in inner ear anatomy and dissection.