The influence of 2.5 g exposure on the morphology of rat vestibular epithelia

Several studies have shown that altered gravity causes changes in vestibular induced reflexes and behaviour, and in vestibular morphology. How the level of gravity affects the morphology of vestibular epithelia, however, is largely unknown. Vestibular epithelia of hypergravity (HG) exposed animals and control animals were histochemically labeled for actin and tubulin (two characteristic proteins for specific cytoskeletal structures in hair cells and supporting cells). Cellular organization, cytoskeletal structure and apical cross-sectional area were investigated.