Histogenesis of the vestibular sensory epithelium in organotypic culture of mouse embryo otocysts: A tritiated thymidine autoradiographic study

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Abstract
The cytogenesis in the vestibular sensory epithelium of mouse embryo otocysts grown in organ culture was examined using tritiated thymidine autoradiography. Pulse-labeling with [(3)H]-thymidine was applied either in vivo, at various intervals before explantation, or in vitro at specific stages of development. Observations of the development in vitro showed that the cytogenesis and cytodifferentiation of vestibular sensory cells were disturbed by explantation. By varying the intervals between the [(3)H]thymidine exposure and the date of explantation, we were able to demonstrate that explantation itself caused a significant decrease in the mitotic and the postmitotic phases of the hair cell precursors. Labeling of the expiants excised on day 13 of gestation revealed that precursors of the hair cells were progressively losing their mitotic capacity in vitro. In contrast with this finding, precursors of the supporting cells were less affected by explantation and culture conditions and they retained the capacity for survival, proliferation and differentiation.