Visualization of Reissner membrane and the spiral ganglion in human fetal cochlea by micro-computed tomography
Received 12 May 2008
Abstract
Purpose
Although visualization of fine structures in the cochlea such as Reissner membrane (vestibular membrane) is important for elucidation of the mechanism and the establishment of therapy for inner ear diseases, they cannot be visualized by even the most advanced high-resolution medical computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging. Visualization of Reissner membrane in dissected animals by micro-magnetic resonance imaging has been reported, but bone could not be visualized. We attempted to visualize human fetal Reissner membrane and the spiral ganglion by micro-focus x-ray CT (μ-CT), which has a spatial resolution several hundred times greater than the conventional medical CT.
Materials and methods
Serial tomograms of a dissected pyramis, including the cochlea of human fetuses (stillborn specimens), were obtained by μ-CT, and 3-dimensional reconstruction was performed by a volume-rendering method.
Results
Clear tomograms (theoretical spatial resolution, 12.2 × 12.2 μm; slice thickness 77.5 μm) and 3-dimensional reconstructed images (theoretical spatial resolution, 6.8 × 6.8 μm; slice thickness, 40.0 μm) of Reissner membrane and the spiral ganglion with a bony labyrinth (cochlear bone) were successfully obtained for the first time. The thickness of Reissner membrane obtained by the tomogram was 12 μm, which corresponds to the optical macroscopic value from resin-embedded histologic sections.
Conclusions
This study showed that μ-CT enables us to visualize the internal fine structure of the human cochlea. As the success rate of the visualization of Reissner membrane is not high, it is necessary to improve the image quality and contrast resolution of μ-CT to enable stable visualization of fine structures. The development of imaging equipment such as μ-CT for medical use should play an important role in the elucidation of the mechanism and the establishment of therapy for inner ear diseases.
aDepartment of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
bKidney Center, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
Corresponding author. Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Kawadacho 8-1, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan. Fax: +81 3 5361 7351.
1 Present affiliation: Blood Purification Center, Itabashi Chuo General Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
ABSTRACT