Hair Cell Regeneration in the Avian Basilar Papilla

Hair cells are highly specialized cells that are located in the inner ear organs and the lateral line neuromasts. They serve as the sensory receptors for hearing, equilibrium, and motion detection.  Birds produce these cells throughout life; mammals, including humans, do not.  Seen here are hair cells as preserved, sliced into a thin section, and seen through a confocal microscope in the Bloedel lab.

This image was produced in Dr. Jennifer Stone's lab in the Bloedel Center.  It appeared on the cover of the Journal of Comparative Neurology, Vol. 417, Number 1, January 31, 2000.