Harada Y, Sugimoto Y
Acta Otolaryngol. 1977 Jul-Aug;84(1-2):65-71. doi: 10.3109/00016487709123943.
Little is known about the origin or the metabolism of otoconia. Streptomycin sulfate was found to cause a decrease in their number on the otolithic membrane of the utricle and saccule in guinea pigs. The remaining otoconia on the otolithic membrane varied in shape and size and giant otoconia with multilayered arrangement were observed by means of a scanning electron microscope. These otoconia contained the normal amount of calcium in the form of standard calcium calcite crystal. The lost otoconia were found attached to the surface of some vestibular dark cells. Otoconia in this new position were irregular, shrunken or fragmented. Their calcium content, measured with an X-ray micro-analyzer, was variably diminished. The dark cells appeared to be actively engaged in absorption of calcium ions, from the attached otoconia. The dark cell is considered to be a receptacle for the disposal of otoconia.
关于耳石的起源或代谢知之甚少。发现硫酸链霉素会导致豚鼠椭圆囊和球囊耳石膜上的耳石数量减少。耳石膜上剩余的耳石形状和大小各异，通过扫描电子显微镜观察到了具有多层排列的巨大耳石。这些耳石含有正常量的以标准方解石晶体形式存在的钙。发现丢失的耳石附着在一些前庭暗细胞的表面。处于这个新位置的耳石不规则、萎缩或破碎。用X射线微分析仪测量，它们的钙含量有不同程度的减少。暗细胞似乎在积极吸收附着耳石中的钙离子。暗细胞被认为是耳石处理的容器。
