biostudies-literatureUnknown11Michanski SIn mammals, spatial orientation is synaptically-encoded by sensory hair cells of the vestibular labyrinth. Vestibular hair cells (VHCs) harbor synaptic ribbons at their presynaptic active zones (AZs), which play a critical role in molecular scaffolding and facilitate synaptic release and vesicular replenishment. With advancing age, the prevalence of vestibular deficits increases; yet, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood and the possible accompanying morphological changes in the VHC synapses have not yet been systematically examined. We investigated the effects of maturation and aging on the ultrastructure of the ribbon-type AZs in murine utricles using various electron microscopic techniques and combined them with confocal and super-resolution light microscopy as well as metaFrontiers in cell and developmental biology1178992https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10447907biostudies-literatureAge-dependent structural reorganization of utricular ribbon synapses.PMC10447907Wichmann CSteyer AMMichanski SMukhopadhyay MFornasiero EFJakobs SPangrsic TVogl CRizzoli SOIlgen PHenneck TGonzalez PAMobius WGrewe KGultas MfalseAge-dependent structural reorganization of utricular ribbon synapses.In mammals, spatial orientation is synaptically-encoded by sensory hair cells of the vestibular labyrinth. Vestibular hair cells (VHCs) harbor synaptic ribbons at their presynaptic active zones (AZs), which play a critical role in molecular scaffolding and facilitate synaptic release and vesicular replenishment. With advancing age, the prevalence of vestibular deficits increases; yet, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood and the possible accompanying morphological changes in the VHC synapses have not yet been systematically examined. We investigated the effects of maturation and aging on the ultrastructure of the ribbon-type AZs in murine utricles using various electron microscopic techniques and combined them with confocal and super-resolution light microscopy as well as meta2023-01-01T00:00:00Z20232025-04-19T23:16:08.256Z2025-04-19T23:16:08.256ZS-EPMC104479073763586810.3389/fcell.2023.1178992