Distribution pattern of the type I and type II sensory cells on the maculae sacculi and utriculi in the guinea pig.

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to demonstrate the exact localization of the type I and type II sensory cells all over the maculae sacculi and utriculi in the guinea pig. The silver reaction method, which was recently applied for the study of the vestibular sensory organs, was successfully used for the discrimination of the type I and type II cells in the surface specimens of the sensory epithelia of the vestibular organs. In the striola, about two-thirds of all sensory cells were type I cells. In general, however, the type II cells could more frequently be found than type I cells. The ratio was about 1.2:1.0 on the macula sacculi, in comparison to about 1.1:1.0 on the macula utriculi. The distribution pattern of the type I and type II cells was demonstrated on the exact copies made of the macula sacculi and utriculi.