Vestibular system of the newborn marsupial cat Dasyurus hallucatus

Abstract

The ultrastructure of the ear of the newborn native cat was examined to determine whether the vestibular system contained sensory receptors. A sensory region, presumably the utricle, was identified in each ear and consisted of a discrete population of otoliths overlying a sensory epithelium which possessed kinocilia and stereocilia. The remainder of the vestibular system did not appear to be developed anatomically. The newborn cat has rudimentary vestibular, olfactory, and mechanoreceptors (Merkel cells), and these structures may aid the newborn marsupial in the journey from the urogenital sinus to the pouch and in locating the teat.