Optical coherence tomography of the rat cochlea

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to image the internal structure of a rat cochlea (ex vivo). Immediately following sacrifice, the temporal bone of a Sprague-Dawley rat was harvested. Axial OCT cross sectional image s lover regions of interest, 1x1 mm-2x8 mm) were obtained with a spatial re solution of 10-15 mum. The osseous borders of the lateral membranous labyri nth overlying the cochlea and the scala vestibuli, media, and tympani, whic h were well demarcated by the modiolus, Reissner's and the basilar membrane s, were clearly identified. OCT can be used to image internal structures in the cochlea without violating the osseous labyrinth using simple surgical exposure of the promontory, and may potentially be used to diagnose inner e ar pathology in vivo in both animal and human subjects labyrinth. (C) 2000 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. [S1083-3668(00)00904-7] .