THE INDEPENDENT DIFFERENTIATION OF THE SENSORY AREAS OF THE AVIAN INNER EAR

¹ Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge

The capacity for differentiation of the sensory areas of the avian inner ear independent of innervation, has been studied by transplanting isolated primordia of the inner ear to the chorioallantoic membrane. Maculae, cristae and a papilla basilaris differentiated in the transplants. All three types of sensory areas are seldom found in any one graft. The sensory areas of the transplanted labyrinths are comparable to those of the control. The morphogenesis of the membranous labyrinth was greatly suppressed in the grafts but the histogenesis of the sensory components showed but little retardation.

Since the sensory areas of the inner ear undergo typical development when isolated from their nerve supply, it is concluded that they are capable of independent differentiation in so far as the nervous system is concerned.