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Updated: Sep 28, 2025

Cryosectioning and Immunostaining Mouse Inner Ear Tissue: From Embryonic to Adult Stages
Published on: April 11, 2025
Intermediate Cells of Dual Embryonic Origin Follow a Basal to Apical Gradient of Ingression Into the Lateral Wall of
Justine M Renauld1, Vibhuti Khan1, Martín L Basch1,2,3,4
1Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, United States.
Abstract:
Intermediate cells of the stria vascularis are neural crest derived melanocytes. They are essential for the establishment of the endocochlear potential in the inner ear, which allows mechanosensory hair cells to transduce sound into nerve impulses. Despite their importance for normal hearing, how these cells develop and migrate to their position in the lateral wall of the cochlea has not been studied. We find that as early as E10.5 some Schwann cell precursors in the VIIIth ganglion begin to express melanocyte specific markers while neural crest derived melanoblasts migrate into the otic vesicle. Intermediate cells of both melanoblast and Schwann cell precursor origin ingress into the lateral wall of the cochlea starting at around E15.5 following a basal to apical gradient during embryonic development, and continue to proliferate postnatally.
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