[In vitro organotypic development of the vestibular sensory epithelium of the embryonic mouse otocyst. A morphological and autoradiographic study (author's transl)].

The cytogenesis of the two cell populations of the vestibular sensory epithelium-hair cells and supporting cells-was investigated in explanted Mouse embryo otocysts using tritiated thymidine autoradiography. The otocysts were explanted on the 13th day of gestation and grown in vitro for 7 days. A close in vitro and in vivo correspondence was found in the cytodifferentiation of the sensory epithelium. At different times after explanation, a single administration of tritiated thymidine was added to the otocysts. The time schedule of the hair cell generation in the explants was essentially different from that observed during normal development. In contrast, the time schedule of the supporting cell generation was only mildly altered. The data suggest that the generative processes of the two cell populations are influenced differently, depending on their later specific differentiation.