Cover: Scanning electron micrograph of the utricular macula from the inner ear of a wild-type mouse. The lower left area shows the layer of normal otoconia, calcite-containing structures that aid the detection of linear acceleration and gravity. In the upper right portion, the otoconia have been removed to reveal the supporting gelatinous matrix of the otoconial membrane. Insert: Abnormal giant otoconia present in the utricular macula of a pendrin-deficient (i.e. Pds-knockout) mouse. See Report by Everett et al. in this issue, pp. 153-161.
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