Organ culture of the 16th gestation day mouse labyrinth. A model suggestion for pre- and post-partum development.

The 16th day mouse embryo inner ear was explanted and cultured "in vitro" for 6 days, which corresponds to 1 day post-partum development "in vivo". A normal development occurred both when the inner ear anlage was divided into a vestibular and a cochlear portion and when it was cultured as a whole. The present model system may provide a helpful tool in the study of both normal development and inner ear pathology.