On the ultrastructure of the developing elastic cartilage in the rat external ear

Selected ultrastructural features of chondrocytes and the extracellular matrix in the developing elastic cartilage of the external ear were studied in rat fetuses and young animals. The cytoplasmic lipid droplets were first observed in the 19-day fetus. They increase in number and size during the first post-natal week. The elastogenesis proceeds in the sequence: oxytalan fibers (17-day fetus), elaunin fibers (1-day rat), elastic fibers (5-day rat). Intermediary stages between the randomly oriented individual microfibrils and bundles of microfibrils (oxytalan fibers) were also observed.