A novel, simple organotypic culture method to study the organ of Corti from the neonatal gerbil.

An original, simple organotypic culture method was developed to grow the organ of Corti from the neonatal gerbil on the bottom of a Petri dish. In comparison with the commonly used Maximov slide assembly method, this method is easier, less time-consuming, and more economic. Our results in this study using fluorescent live/dead viability assay and fluorescein-conjugated antineurofilament antibodies show that the cultured organ of Corti and spiral ganglion cells not only survived for at least 14 days but also maintained their basic organization and normal development in vitro. Therefore, our method can serve as a reliable and easier alternative to the traditional techniques for studying the development as well as other physiological properties of the cultured organ of Corti.