COMBINED ORGAN OF CORTI-MODIOLUS TECHNIQUE FOR PREPARING MAMMALIAN COCHLEAS FOR QUANTITATIVE MICROSCOPY

An improved cochlear preparation technique is described with the follo wing key features: 1) Preservation of the organ of Corti (OC) and the spiral ganglion cells (SGCs) in the same cochlea for quantitative, hig h-resolution microscopic evaluation; 2) Dissection of the plastic-embe dded cochlea so that the entire OC can be prepared as whole mounts for quantitative study while the modiolus remains in a single block; 3) D ecalcification and serial sectioning of the modiolus so that all SGC b odies are available for microscopic examination. This technique will b e valuable for correlating the condition of the OC, nerve terminals, n erve fibers and the SGC bodies in normal and damaged cochleas.