Computer-aided serial section reconstruction of nerve endings on the outer hair cells of the cochlea. Semithin sections vs. ultrathin sections.

Afferent and efferent nerve endings on several outer hair cells in different turns and rows of the guinea pig cochlea were three-dimensionally reconstructed from serial semithin sections or ultrathin sections by means of a new computer system. In the basal turn, a single afferent ending was sometimes isolated from the others and surrounded by efferent endings, suggesting that this type of afferent ending may have properties different from the others. The advantages and disadvantages of semithin sections and ultrathin sections in computer-aided reconstruction were discussed and it was concluded that the semithin section technique will be useful in reconstructions of specimens from a wide range, whereas the ultrathin section technique will be better for reproducing fine structures such as the distribution of cell organelles as well as synaptic membrane specializations.