Ross M D, Peacor D R
Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1975 Jan-Feb;84(1 Pt 1):22-36. doi: 10.1177/000348947508400105.
Several types of otoconia are present in the macular regions of young rats. These include multifaceted, transitional and rounded body forms, some variant otoconia and a few rhombohedrons. The adult form has typically rounded by nonsmooth body surfaces and pointed ends with three planar faces. The multifaceted and transitional otoconia fracture and etch more readily than do the adult type. The differences in properties of the otoconia are considered in the light of known facts concerning inorganic crystal nucleating and growth. This integrated approach indicates that many otoconia originate by seeding of multiple subunits on an organic substrate and develop by the mechanism of parallel growth. The basic structural unit is the rhombohedron. By analogy to inorganic crystals of calcite, it would seem that the typical otoconium grows on the end faces but growth on the side faces is suppressed by some unknown chemical factor. Some otoconia are exceptions, evidently seeding and growing in the pure rhombohedral form. Decalcification of cleaved otoconia shows that organic material is incorporated during growth. The observations are interpreted to indicate that organic substance influences growth and achievement of the adult otoconial form.
幼鼠黄斑区域存在几种类型的耳石。这些包括多面体形、过渡形和圆形体形式，一些变异耳石和少数菱面体。成年耳石通常具有圆形且不光滑的体表以及带有三个平面的尖端部。多面体和过渡形耳石比成年类型更容易断裂和蚀刻。根据有关无机晶体成核和生长的已知事实来考虑耳石性质的差异。这种综合方法表明，许多耳石起源于多个亚基在有机基质上的播种，并通过平行生长机制发育。基本结构单元是菱面体。类比方解石的无机晶体，典型的耳石似乎在端面上生长，但侧面的生长受到某种未知化学因素的抑制。一些耳石是例外，显然以纯菱面体形式播种和生长。劈开的耳石脱钙显示，有机物质在生长过程中被掺入。这些观察结果被解释为表明有机物质影响成年耳石形式的生长和形成。
