Pedersen E K, Mair I W, Elverland H H
Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 1980;229(1):55-68. doi: 10.1007/BF00453752.
The tectorial membrane is affected at an early stage of the cochlear degeneration in the hereditarily deaf white cat. The membrane first descends towards the organ of Corti with obliteration of the intervening sub-tectorial space in the basal coil during the second post-natal week. Both the microvilli of supporting and Hensen's cells, and the hair cell stereocilia make deep indentations on the under-surface of the membrane. Cells are found insinuated between the tectorial membrane and Corti's organ, and numerous cellular processes occur within the former. A phagocytic function would appear probable for these cells, which seem to originate from the internal sulcus region. The membrane is retracted into the latter around the 2-month stage. At all ages, small spherical structures, which may represent altered interdental cell secretions, are found within the membrane, these becoming calcified in older animals.
在遗传性耳聋白猫的耳蜗退化早期，盖膜会受到影响。在出生后第二周，盖膜首先向柯蒂氏器下降，基底螺旋中的中间盖膜下间隙消失。支持细胞和亨森细胞的微绒毛以及毛细胞静纤毛在盖膜的下表面形成深深的凹陷。发现有细胞夹在盖膜和柯蒂氏器之间，并且在盖膜内有许多细胞突起。这些细胞似乎起源于内沟区域，可能具有吞噬功能。在2个月左右的阶段，盖膜会回缩到内沟区域。在所有年龄段，在盖膜内都发现有小球形结构，可能代表改变的齿间细胞分泌物，在老年动物中这些结构会钙化。
