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Prosaposin is a precursor of lysosomal hydrolases activator proteins, saposins, and also acts as a secretory protein that is not processed into saposins. Prosaposin elicits neurotrophic function via G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 37, and prosaposin deficiency causes abnormal vestibuloauditory end-organ development. In this study, immunohistochemistry was used to examine prosaposin and GPR37 expression patterns in the mouse cochlear and vestibular nuclei. Prosaposin immunoreactivity was observed in neurons and glial cells in both nuclei. GPR37 immunoreactivity was observed in only some neurons, and its immunoreactivity in the vestibular nucleus was weaker than that in the cochlear nucleus. This study suggests a possibility that prosaposin deficiency affects not only the end-organs but also the first center of the vestibuloauditory system.

Total 40 non-descriptive deshi chickens were reared in scavenging and intensive farming system (20 for each) from day 1 to 180. Gross examinations of different lymphoid organs and tissues were performed at D1, D30, D90 and D180 for both types of chickens. Tissue samples were stained with H andE stain and AmScope image measurement software was used for histomorphometry. Gross and histomorphometrical parameters of thymus, spleen and cecal tonsils gradually increased significantly (P£0.05) with the advancement of ages from D1 to D180 in both scavenging Deshi chickens (SDC) and captive Deshi chickens (CDC). Gross and histomorphometrical parameters of bursa increased up to D90 and thereafter decreased indicating the involution of bursa by D180. The gross and histomorphometrical parameters of bursa, thymus, spleen and cecal tonsils were significantly (P£0.05) higher in all age groups of CDC (except D1 chicks) as compared with SDC, owing to the different patterns of rearing system.

Independent auditory end‐organs appear first in amphibians in vertebrate phylogeny. In amphibians, sound detection is carried out by the amphibian papilla, basilar papilla and macula saccule. Amphibians inhabit distinct habitats and exhibit specific behaviours and sound frequency responses, so the amphibian vestibuloauditory system is an excellent model for considering the relationships between behaviour and physiological/anatomical vestibuloauditory properties. The African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, lives in shallow water throughout its life and is thought to use sound in a higher frequency range compared with terrestrial anurans. In this study, the size of each vestibuloauditory end‐organ and the distribution of ganglion cells in the vestibuloauditory ganglion were examined using haematoxylin and eosin staining and lectin histochemistry in Xenopus laevis. This study revealed that the size ratios among end‐organs in Xenopus are similar to those in terrestrial anurans. Large and small cells were observed in the ganglion, but their distribution patterns are different from those in general terrestrial anurans. Lycopersicon esculentum lectin stained a large number of ganglion cells. Lectin‐stained cells were found throughout the whole ganglion, but were especially abundant in the caudal part. These results suggested a unique distribution pattern of the vestibuloauditory ganglion cells in Xenopus.

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