Comparative crystallography of vertebrate otoconia

Rosauer, Elmer A.; Redmond, James R.

doi:10.1017/s0022215100096249

Cited by 5 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 30 publications

(24 reference statements)

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“…Crystals of calcium carbonate, located in the inner ear, form an integral component of the vestibular system of animals. In birds and mammals the calcite polymorph is found, while primarily aragonitic otoconia are found in amphibians and reptiles 27, 31, 163. Across species, the glycoproteins associated with calcite otoconia are similar to each other but different than those glycoproteins isolated from aragonite otoconia 22.…”

Section: Biogenic Calcium Carbonate Systems That Mineralize In Gelmentioning

confidence: 95%

Crystal Growth of Calcium Carbonate in Hydrogels as a Model of Biomineralization

Asenath‐Smith

Keene

et al. 2012

Adv Funct Materials

198

307

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A gel is defi ned as a two-component (solid and liquid), continuous, solid-like material with viscoelastic rheological Crystal Growth of Calcium Carbonate in Hydrogels as a Model of BiomineralizationIn recent years, the prevalence of hydrogel-like organic matrices in biomineralization has gained attention as a route to synthesizing a diverse range of crystalline structures. Here, examples of hydrogels in biological, as well as synthetic, bio-inspired systems are discussed. Particular attention is given to understanding the physical versus chemical effects of a broad range of hydrogel matrices and their role in directing polymorph selectivity and morphological control in the calcium carbonate system. Finally, recent data regarding hydrogel-matrix incorporation into the growing crystals is discussed and a mechanism for the formation of these single-crystal composite materials is presented. Future and is researching crystal growth in gels as a means to form nanocomposites.chains form helices (double or single helices) that subsequently aggregate into three-dimensional (3D) bundles, forming a porous network with fi brous characteristics (Figure 1 a,b). [ 82 , 83 ] Both the gelling and melting temperatures can be tailored by chemical modifi cation such as partial hydroxyethylation. [ 84 ] The mechanical behavior of agarose gels is sensitive to molecular weight and concentration [ 85 ] as well as chemical modifi cation.

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Section: Biogenic Calcium Carbonate Systems That Mineralize In Gelmentioning

confidence: 95%

Crystal Growth of Calcium Carbonate in Hydrogels as a Model of Biomineralization

Asenath‐Smith

Keene

et al. 2012

Adv Funct Materials

198

307

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“…In sturgeons otoliths and otoconia are made up of vaterite. In bichir, bowfin and gar, however, otoliths are aragonitic whereas otoconia are vateritic (Carlström, 1963;Rosauer and Redmond, 1985).…”

Section: Otoconia and Otolithsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The Latimeria ear apparently contains only one large calciticaragonitic "saccular otolith" (Carlström, 1963;Rosauer and Redmond, 1985).…”

Section: Otoconia and Otolithsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity in Fish Auditory Systems: One of the Riddles of Sensory Biology

2016

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An astonishing diversity of inner ears and accessory hearing structures (AHS) that can enhance hearing has evolved in fishes. Inner ears mainly differ in the size of the otolith end organs, the shape and orientation of the sensory epithelia, and the orientation patterns of ciliary bundles of sensory hair cells. Despite our profound morphological knowledge of inner ear variation, two main questions remain widely unanswered. (i) What selective forces and/or constraints led to the evolution of this inner ear diversity? (ii) How is the morphological variability linked to hearing abilities? Improved hearing is mainly based on the ability of many fish species to transmit oscillations of swim bladder walls or other gas-filled bladders to the inner ears. Swim bladders may be linked to the inner ears via a chain of ossicles (in otophysans), anterior extensions (e.g., some cichlids, squirrelfishes), or the gas bladders may touch the inner ears directly (labyrinth fishes). Studies on catfishes and cichlids demonstrate that larger swim bladders and more pronounced linkages to the inner ears positively affect both auditory sensitivities and the detectable frequency range, but lack of a connection does not exclude hearing enhancement. This diversity of auditory structures and hearing abilities is one of the main riddles in fish bioacoustics research. Hearing enhancement might have evolved to facilitate intraspecific acoustic communication. A comparison of sound-producing species, however, indicates that acoustic communication is widespread in taxa lacking AHS. Eco-acoustical constraints are a more likely explanation for the diversity in fish hearing sensitivities. Low ambient noise levels may have facilitated the evolution of AHS, enabling fish to detect low-level abiotic noise and sounds from con-and heterosopecifics, including predators and prey. Aquatic habitats differ in ambient noise regimes, and preliminary data indicate that hearing sensitivities of fishes vary accordingly.

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“…Previous comparative studies on material properties attempted to trace a possible relationship between the presence of otoliths and/or otoconia and the material mineralized in the ears of different vertebrate groups (Carlström, ; Ross & Pote, ; Rosauer & Redmond, ). Studies on the chemical composition of otoconia and otoliths (Carlström, ; Mann et al, ; Rosauer & Redmond, ; Gauldie et al, ; Gauldie, , ; see Table S1) indicated a switch from apatite in otoconia (and ‘microotoliths’) of hagfishes and lampreys to calcium carbonate in the otoconia and otoliths of all other vertebrates (Fig. ).…”

Section: Evolution Of Teleost Otolithsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enigmatic ear stones: what we know about the functional role and evolution of fish otoliths

et al. 2018

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Otoliths in bony fishes play an important role in the senses of balance and hearing. Otolith mass and shape are, among others, likely to be decisive factors influencing otolith motion and thus ear functioning. Yet our knowledge of how exactly these factors influence otolith motion is incomplete. In addition, experimental studies directly investigating the function of otoliths in the inner ear are scarce and yield partly conflicting results. Herein, we discuss questions and hypotheses on how otolith mass and shape, and the relationship between the sensory epithelium and overlying otolith, influence otolith motion. We discuss (i) the state‐of‐the‐art knowledge regarding otolith function, (ii) gaps in knowledge that remain to be filled, and (iii) future approaches that may improve our understanding of the role of otoliths in ear functioning. We further link these functional questions to the evolution of solid teleost otoliths instead of numerous tiny otoconia as found in most other vertebrates. Until now, the selective forces and/or constraints driving the evolution of solid calcareous otoliths and their diversity in shape in teleosts are largely unknown. Based on a data set on the structure of otoliths and otoconia in more than 160 species covering the main vertebrate groups, we present a hypothetical framework for teleost otolith evolution. We suggest that the advent of solid otoliths may have initially been a selectively neutral ‘by‐product’ of other key innovations during teleost evolution. The teleost‐specific genome duplication event may have paved the way for diversification in otolith shape. Otolith shapes may have evolved along with the considerable diversity of, and improvements in, auditory abilities in teleost fishes. However, phenotypic plasticity may also play an important role in the creation of different otolith types, and different portions of the otolith may show different degrees of phenotypic plasticity. Future studies should thus adopt a phylogenetic perspective and apply comparative and methodologically integrative approaches, including fossil otoliths, when investigating otoconia/otolith evolution and their function in the inner ear.

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Comparative crystallography of vertebrate otoconia

Cited by 5 publications

References 30 publications

Crystal Growth of Calcium Carbonate in Hydrogels as a Model of Biomineralization

Crystal Growth of Calcium Carbonate in Hydrogels as a Model of Biomineralization

Diversity in Fish Auditory Systems: One of the Riddles of Sensory Biology

Enigmatic ear stones: what we know about the functional role and evolution of fish otoliths

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