Middle-ear development. VI: Structural maturation of the rat conducting apparatus.

BACKGROUND

The contribution of middle-ear development to the overall development of hearing has not been explored in great detail. This presentation describes the maturation of conductive elements in the rat middle ear, and provides the basis on which future studies of middle-ear functional development will follow.

METHODS

The middle-ear apparatus was examined at nine different ages (between 1 and 80 days postpartum) in Long Evans rats. At each age elements of the conducting apparatus was observed with either light or scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and quantitative measurements were made from video enhanced photomicrographs. Tympanic membrane area and cone depth, the length of the malleus and incus arms, ossicular weight, stapes foot plate and oval window areas, and bulla volume were all measured. Development of the area and lever ratios were derived from these measurements. The data were fitted to exponential equations and the time in days required to reach 90% of the adult level determined.

RESULTS

The pars tensa achieved 90% of total area by 17 days. The oval window achieved the 90% criterion by 13 days, while the area ratio was within 10% of its adult size by 8 days. The ossicles took between 26 and 34 days, while bulla volume took 59 days to reach the 90% level.

CONCLUSIONS

Middle-ear growth was very orderly and systematic in the data reported. When maturation of the area ratio was considered against development of the endocochlear potential or the round window compound action potential, it was clear that the growth of this important aspect of the middle ear preceded the onset of cochlear function.