Acute mechanical overstimulation of isolated outer hair cells causes changes in intracellular calcium levels without shape changes

Impaired auditory function following acoustic overstimulation, or noise, is mainly reported to be accompanied by cellular changes such as damage to the sensory hair bundles, but changes in the cell bodies of the outer hair cells have also been described. To investigate more closely the immediate cellular responses to overstimulation, isolated guinea pig outer hair cells were subjected to a 200 Hz oscillating water jet producing intense mechanical stimulation. The water jet was aimed at the cell body of the isolated outer hair cell. Cell shape changes were studied using video microscopy, and intracellular calcium concentration changes were monitored by means of the fluorescent calcium indicator Fluo-3. Cells exposed to a high-intensity stimulus showed surprisingly small light-microscopical alterations. The cytoplasmic calcium concentration increased in most cells, although some cells appeared very resistant to the mechanical stress. No correlation could be found be tween the calcium concentration changes and the cell length. The changes in calcium concentration reported here are suggested to be involved in the long-term pathogenesis of noise-induced hair cell damage.

Endocytosis of aminoglycoside antibiotics in sensory hair cells

Immuno-gold electron microscopy was used to assess the uptake pathways of aminoglycoside antibiotic kanamycin (KM) in sensory hair cells. Accumulation of gold particles was evident on the plasma membrane as well as in large smooth vesicles beneath the apical surfaces of hair cells 12 h after a systemic administration of KM. Immuno-gold was exclusively localized in the vesicles 27 h post-injection. Cationic ferritin, a membrane-bound insoluble marker, was colocalized with KM in the vesicle structures after their simultaneous in vitro application. These results strongly suggest that KM is taken up into sensory hair cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis at their apical surfaces. In addition, the profound time lag between KM uptake and hair cell death suggests involvement of targeting mechanisms in cytotoxic signalling pathways of the drugs.

Mechanically induced calcium increases in isolated vestibular hair cells of the guinea pig

Intracellular Ca2+([Ca2+]i) is elevated by depolarization or mechanical stimulation in some hair cell systems. It is not clear whether both these stimuli promote Ca2+ entry in mammalian vestibular hair cells. We monitored [Ca2+]i with the indicator fluo-3 in isolated type I vestibular hair cells of the guinea pig maintained in Hanks' balanced salt solution (HBSS). Mechanical stimulation by bolus application of HBSS led to an immediate rise of [Ca2+]i. The effect depended upon the presence of extracellular Ca2+([Ca2+]o) and no increase occurred in calcium-free HBSS supplemented with calcium-chelators. When the cells were depolarized by bolus application of KCl (final concentration, 100 mM KCl in modified HBSS), the increase in [Ca2+]i was similar to that elicited by HBSS. In the absence of [Ca2+]o, the application of KCI/HBSS led to a slow sustained increase in the fluorescence of the cells suggesting release of calcium from intracellular stores. Finally, treatment of cells with BAPTA prior to mechanical stimulation prevented the rise in [Ca2+]i indicating the need for intact stereociliary tip-links. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that mechanical stimulation elevates [Ca2+]i in isolated vestibular hair cells via calcium influx through mechanotransduction channels.

Dystrophin expression in the hair cells of the cochlea

Dystrophin is normally expressed in a number of tissues including muscle, brain and the outer plexiform layer of the retina. In Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy abnormal or deficient dystrophin expression leads to muscle degeneration and has been implicated in mental retardation and a form of night blindness. We have examined the expression of dystrophin immunoreactivity in cochlear tissues of normal guinea-pig and mouse, and whether expression is perturbed in the cochlea of the dystrophic MDX mouse. A single band of approximately 427 kDa, corresponding to a full-length isoform of dystrophin was detected in guinea-pig and normal mouse but was absent from the MDX mouse. Cochleae from guinea-pig, normal and MDX mouse also showed a second dystrophin isoform of 116 kDa molecular weight with the C-terminal specific antibody. Immunostained guinea pig cochlear half turns were examined by laser scanning confocal microscopy. Dystrophin was localized in both inner and outer hair cells with staining patterns which were qualitatively similar with both antibodies. In the outer hair cells labelling of the lateral wall was especially distinctive. The synaptic region of both hair cell types was also strongly labelled.

Cytological changes related to maturation of the organ of Corti and opening of Corti's tunnel

Maturation of the organ of Corti in the gerbil was analyzed between 2 and 16 days after birth (DAB) by electron microscopy and immunostaining for beta-tubulin. At 2 DAB, the organ of Corti consisted of stratified epithelium bearing immature sensory hair cells (HCs) and supporting cells. Maturation of OHCs and Deiters cells progressed in a medial-to-lateral direction and cytoskeletal development in inner pillar cells preceded that in outer pillar cells at the single location studied along the frequency-place map. Pillar cell differentiation progressed through a unique stage characterized by the appearance and stratification of structural features apparently concerned with opening of Corti's tunnel and subsequently showed other structural changes related to maturity toward the adult form. Development of the microtubule cytoskeleton occurred first in the cell's apex and proceeded basally. Ruffling of a middle region of the cell surface by microvilli appeared to promote separation between inner and outer pillar cells and initiate tunnel opening at 4 DAB. Proliferation of distended cisternae of granular reticulum evidenced proteinaceous secretion by these cells between 4 and 8 DAB. Subsequent tunnel expansion at about 14 DAB coincided with appearance in outer pillar cells of tubulocisternal endoplasmic reticulum and associated Golgi complexes that are thought to mediate fluid and ion secretion. Sixteen days postnatally after disappearance of granular and tubulocisternal reticula and Golgi complexes and at the time of clearing of tunnel fluid, lysosomes interpreted as mediating catabolism of endocytosed protein congregated beneath the apical and apicolateral plasmalemmae of inner pillar cells. As with pillar cells, development of the microtubule system in Deiters cells proceeded from the cell's apex to base. Following differentiation of their microtubule system by 8 DAB, Deiters cells showed expansion of Golgi cisternae between 10 and 15 DAB and development of tubulocisternal endoplasmic reticulum at 15 DAB. Hair cells possessed abundant, distinctively large mitochondria from 4 to 10 DAB. The subsurface cisternae matured earlier in medial as opposed to lateral outer hair cells. Vesicles budding from underlying cisternae appeared associated with development of subsurface cisternae and at 16 DAB were still observed in third row but not in more mature first row HCs.

Two types of calcium channels in bullfrog saccular hair cells

Ca2+ channels were studied in cell-attached recordings from the basolateral membrane of the bullfrog saccular hair cells with the EPC-9 patch-clamp system. Pipettes contained 110 mM Ba2+ and the membrane potential was zeroed with isotonic potassium aspartate. Data acquisition and analysis were performed using E9SCREEN and M2LAB software. L-type channel was distinguished by a single-channel conductance of 26 pS, activation range between -10 and +40 mV and intense activity even at a holding potential of -40 mV. The L-type channel showed characteristic bursts of brief openings (mode 1) interrupted occasionally by longer openings (mode 2). Bay K 8644 promoted the mode 2 activity and nifedipine inhibited L-type channel activity. Another type of calcium channels, 20 pS channel, was detected by -50 to +10 mV depolarizing steps from a holding potential of -40 or -80 mV. This channel was insensitive to dihydropyridines and resembled the N-type channel.

Fluorescence imaging of extracellular purinergic receptor sites and putative ecto-ATPase sites on isolated cochlear hair cells

Fluorescence imaging of extracellular adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) binding sites on inner and outer hair cells isolated from the guinea pig organ of Corti was achieved using the fluorescent analog of ATP, 2'-(or-3')-O-(trinitrophenyl)adenosine-5'- triphosphate (TNP-ATP; 30-75 microM). This analog, which fluoresces on binding to these sites, was pressure applied by micropipette while hair cells were viewed by fluorescence microscopy. Fluorescence imaging revealed a widespread distribution of extracellular binding sites, including the stereocilia, cuticular plate, and the basolateral margins of the cells, but particularly in infracuticular and infranuclear regions. In support of extracellular binding, simultaneous electrophysiological recordings demonstrated that rapid washout of TNP-ATP-induced fluorescence was dependent upon cell integrity. Suramin, a nonselective P2 purinoceptor antagonist, coapplied with TNP-ATP, reduced the fluorescence observed on the stereocilia and apical surface of the cuticular plate only. This implies that binding sites on the apical surface of hair cells are P2 receptors, consistent with previous electrophysiological evidence for localization of P2 receptors to the apical surface of cochlear hair cells (Housley et al., 1992). Binding of TNP-ATP to P2 purinoceptors was confirmed by its antagonism of the inward current elicited by ATP (10 microM) in voltage-clamped hair cells. Fluorescence from the basolateral margin was significantly quenched when TNP-ATP was applied in divalent cation-free solution. Because divalent cations are required for ATPase activity, this finding provides evidence for the presence of ecto-ATPases on the basolateral membrane of hair cells. The divalent cation-free condition had no significant effect on the ATP-gated P2 purinoceptor conductance. We propose that there are two classes of ATP binding sites on cochlear hair cells: apically located P2 purinoceptors gating nonselective cation channels and basolaterally located ecto-ATPases that may be involved in purine turnover.

Immunocytochemical reactivities of precursor cells and their progeny in the ear of a cichlid fish

Cell types in the inner ear of the fish Astronotus ocellatus were examined for the immunocytochemical reactivity to 31 commercial antibodies. Nine showed positive reactivity: vimentin, S-100, caldesmon, calbindin, MAP-1, MAP-2, parvalbumin, neurofilament, and GAP-43. The cell types examined were: hair cells, support cells, hair cell precursors, eighth nerve neurons, and neuronal precursors. The pattern of reactivities among these cell types lead to the following conclusions. First, hair cells and eighth nerve neurons have a striking immunocytochemical similarity. Second, the precursor cells for hair cells and neurons did not share immunoreactivity with these mature progeny. Third, the only antibody to react with supporting cells also reacted with the proliferating precursors that give rise to new hair cells and supporting cells. Taken with other available data, these finding suggest that in the oscar ear, hair cell precursors and supporting cells are closely related, if not the same cell type.

Localization of osteopontin in the otoconial organs of adult rats

Although it is known that mammalian otoconia consist of calcium bicarbonate and organic materials, none of the protein components have been identified in mammals at the molecular level, and the mechanisms of morphogenesis and calcification of the otoconia is still unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated the presence of osteopontin (OPN) in rat otoconia by using immunohistochemistry, and detected OPN mRNA in the sensory hair cells by a non-radioisotopic in situ hybridization technique. These results indicate that OPN is one of the protein components in rat otoconia and suggest that sensory hair cells are involved in the production of otoconia.

G protein Gi2 alpha in the cochlea: cloning and selective occurrence in receptor cells

A cDNA library was made from the mouse cochlea and screened with a G protein-cDNA like molecule obtained from cochlear tissue by polymerase chain reaction. The nucleotide sequence of a clone, named cochlear Gi2 alpha, had 99.2% identity to mouse macrophage Gi2 alpha. Using an antibody which is selective for Gi2 alpha, expression of the cochlear Gi2 alpha was localized in outer and inner hair cells of the organ of Corti. Possible functional roles of this G protein in hair cells are discussed.

Intercellular contacts between chick stereocilia after acoustic overstimulation

The goal of this study was to analyze the distribution of actin and the shape of stereocilia of chick hair cells that survive acoustic trauma. Chicks were exposed to intense octave band noise for 4 h. They were killed either immediately after the exposure, after 6 or after 72 h. The basilar papillae were examined using scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy, with phalloidin as an actin-specific probe. Injured hair cells which survived the trauma displayed disorganized stereocilia bundles, elongated stereocilia, and supernumerary stereocilia bundles. Tips of stereocilia in the damaged region of the basilar papilla appeared to be in contact with tips of stereocilia of neighboring hair cells. These contacts may represent 'stress links' which appear in traumatized hair cells. These results show that substantial changes in stereocilia occur within hours of exposure to intense noise. We speculate that surviving hair cells may play a role in the process of repair of the basilar papilla after noise trauma and that the changes in stereocilia structure described here are related to this role.

Expression of actin isoforms in the guinea pig organ of Corti: muscle isoforms are not detected

The specificity of antibodies to actin was assayed by use of immunoblots and histological sections of control tissues enriched for each of six different isoforms. On immunoblots, all antibodies stained at most one band of protein in most of the control materials, with a molecular weight of approximately 43 kDa. Their pattern of staining of muscle and nonmuscle tissues indicated their isoform specificity. On tissue sections, immunocytochemical staining demonstrated cellular and subcellular localization of the different isoforms. Once characterized with regard to specificity, these antibodies were used to probe actin in the guinea pig organ of Corti. None of the four muscle isoforms of actin were found in either immunoblots or tissue sections of the organ of Corti. Both beta- and gamma-cytoplasmic isoforms of actin were present in hair cells and supporting cells. This leaves open to investigation the role which cytoplasmic actins play in these cells of the organ of Corti.

Cellular distribution of parvalbumin immunoreactivity in the peripheral vestibular system of three rodents

The cellular distribution of parvalbumin immunoreactivity in the vestibular peripheral system of mouse, rat, and guinea pig was investigated by light and electron microscopy. Parvalbumin was found in all neurons of the vestibular ganglia of these species but in the sensory epithelia immunoreactivity was restricted to type I hair cells localized exclusively in the central areas. The very intense staining pattern was similar in the cristae ampullares and utricles of all three species but a faint immunoreaction was also detectable in sensory cells of peripheral areas of rat cristae. The parvalbumin-immunoreactive type I sensory cells are connected by nerve fibres of the calyx unit type which are known selectively to contain calretinin.

An analysis of actin isoforms expressed in hair-cell enriched fractions of the chick basilar papilla by the polymerase chain reaction technique

Actin mRNA was characterised in hair-cell enriched fractions of the chick basilar papilla, by means of the reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction technique. Primers were directed against the 3' untranslated portions of the actin mRNAs. Evidence for beta-cytoplasmic and gamma-cytoplasmic actin mRNA was found; no evidence was found for alpha-skeletal, alpha-cardiac or type 5 cytoplasmic actin mRNAs. Since beta-actin is known to form bundles of filaments whereas gamma-actin does not, this suggests that the hair-cell stereocilia are composed of beta-actin.

Flavin adenine dinucleotide is a major endogenous fluorophore in the inner ear

When illuminated with visible light, hair cells can exhibit autofluorescence (Lewis et al. [1982] Science 215, 1641-1643) concentrated in the basal pole near the synapses (Sento and Furukawa [1987] J. Comp. Neurol. 258, 352-367). The autofluorescence is enhanced by formaldehyde. The level of fluorescence is high enough to interfere with fluorescence microscopy of hair cells and to suggest that the fluorescent substance might have a particular role in hair-cell function. To identify this substance, we extracted a substance with formaldehyde-enhanced fluorescence from the inner ears of goldfish and purified it chromatographically. The substance copurified with FAD and had the same fluorescence emission spectrum. Two further results supported the identity of the endogenous fluorescent substance with FAD. First, as is the case with flavins, the autofluorescence in inner ear tissue examined within a few hours after fixation was reduced by addition of dithionite. Second, as is the case with the formaldehyde-enhanced fluorophore, the fluorescence of FAD was enhanced by formaldehyde. FAD accounted for 90% of flavins in goldfish inner ears; its concentration in the sensory epithelium was estimated to be about 30 nmol/g tissue weight, one of the highest tissue concentrations known. The FAD is probably associated with an unidentified flavoprotein concentrated in the basal, synaptic region of the hair cell.

Identification of a 120 kd hair-bundle myosin located near stereociliary tips

By adapting to sustained stimuli, hair cells of the internal ear maintain their optimal sensitivity to minute displacements. Biophysical experiments have suggested that adaptation is mediated by a molecular motor, most likely a member of the myosin family. To provide direct evidence for the presence of myosin isozymes in hair bundles, we used photoaffinity labeling with vanadate-trapped uridine and adenine nucleotides to identify proteins of 120, 160, and 230 kd in a preparation of hair bundles purified from the bullfrog's sacculus. The photoaffinity labeling properties of these proteins, particularly the 120 kd protein, resembled those of other well-characterized myosins. A 120 kd hair-bundle protein was also recognized by a monoclonal antibody directed against a vertebrate myosin I isozyme. Immunofluorescence microscopy localized this protein near the beveled top edge of the hair bundle, the site of mechanoelectrical transduction and adaptation.

Electron-probe analysis of isolated goldfish hair cells: implications for preparing healthy cells

Electron-probe analysis provides an objective criterion for the physiological status of cells: whether they show the high potassium and low sodium that are expected of healthy animal cells. Preparing isolated goldfish hair cells that were healthy by this criterion required several precautions, including: limited exposure to enzymes and to simple salt solutions, a rest period between enzyme treatment and mechanical disruption of the tissue, and presence of bovine albumin in the medium both during the rest period and during mechanical dispersion and plating. Cells prepared with these precautions from the saccule and lagena and kept in an enriched medium had the following elemental composition (mole percentages with respect to phosphorus): K, 103; Na, 18; Cl, 23; S, 13; Mg, 8; Ca, 1.5. These mole percentages were close to these elements' total millimolar concentrations in the cells. If the precautions were not taken, cells with intact surface membranes (as assessed by exclusion and retention of dyes) could be obtained, but the cells had elevated cell sodium and low cell potassium.

Immunohistochemical localization of S-100 protein in the saccule of the rainbow trout (Salmo gairdnerii R.)

The distribution of S-100-like immunoreactivity in the trout saccule (a presumed organ of hearing in fish) has been determined by means of immunohistochemistry. Within the sensory epithelium of the saccular macula, hair cells and myelinated saccular nerve fibers were found to be immunoreactive. Hair-cell immunoreactivity was relatively uniform throughout the macula except at the extreme periphery (rostral, caudal, ventral and dorsal), where staining was either decreased or absent. The immunoreactivity associated with myelinated nerve fibers was greatest at the peripheral edges of the nerve processes, a position corresponding to the location of Schwann cells. However, the nerve processes themselves (within and subjacent to the sensory epithelium), as well as cell bodies within the saccular nerve, were also immunoreactive. Thus, the immunoreactivity of the saccular nerve observed above the basal lamina can be attributed to the saccular nerve processes as well as to nerve-associated Schwann cells. Overall, the immunoreactivity displayed by hair cells was less intense than that associated with myelinated saccular nerve, as evidenced by a disappearance of signal in hair cells first, upon serial dilution of antibody. No S-100-like immunoreactivity was observed in supporting cells within the sensory epithelium or in epithelial cells in non-sensory regions. A concentration of S-100-like immunoreactivity in hair cells and saccular nerve is suggestive of the presence of S-100 calcium-binding protein-mediated activities in these cell types.

Calcium-binding proteins in the inner ear of Xenopus laevis (Daudin)

Parvalbumin, S-100, calbindin-D28K and calmodulin-immunoreactive sensory hair cells were located in the inner ear of tadpoles and mature frogs of Xenopus laevis (Daudin). The relative number of immunoreactive cells varied in different compartments of the inner ear, depending on the Ca-binding protein studied.

Ultrastructural localization of H human-blood-group immunoreactivity rat cochlear hair cells

Human blood-group antigens are transiently expressed in developing cochlear hair cells. This temporal antigen expression seems to correspond to the main events of inner ear differentiation (e.g. hair cell development, synaptogenesis, ciliogenesis). In the present report, the cochlear expression of H human blood group antigen has been analyzed with the aid of the electron microscope. Ultrastructurally, cochleas stained with anti-H antibody exhibited an intense immunoreactivity on the apical hair cell membrane and on stereocilia. Cell surface glycoconjugates may serve a large number of functions and could be important during cell development. The temporal expression of H blood-group antigen in developing cochlear hair cells could be related to stereocilia differentiation.

Glycoconjugates in the cochlea as revealed by the silver methenamine method

The glycoconjugates in the cochlea of the guinea pig were studied by staining samples by the silver methenamine method as well as after periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. Results obtained by the two methods were similar but not identical. The silver methenamine method was much better in terms of resolution. However, this method of staining seemed less specific than the PAS reaction. When the silver methenamine method was used, the tectorial membrane and outer hair cells were specifically stained. Two types of fibrils were observed in the tectorial membrane. Thick fibrils were located in the fibrous layer. Thin fibrils were situated in the marginal band, the cover net, Hensen's stripe and the fibrous layer. The thick and thin fibrils appeared to correspond to type A and type B protofibrils, respectively. The outer hair cells were found to contain strongly stained particles which, presumably, consisted of glycogen. The basement membrane of the capillaries in the stria vascularis also gave a positive reaction, while that of other capillaries was essentially unstained. This finding suggests structural differences between these capillaries.

The localization of synaptophysin in the organ of Corti of the human as shown by immunoelectron microscopy

Synaptophysin, or p38, a polypeptide of molecular weight 38 kD, is a calcium-binding membrane protein found in synaptic vesicles of neurons and smooth surfaced vesicles of neuroendocrine cells. Six human neonatal and infant temporal bones were fixed in paraformaldehyde and glutaraldehyde, decalcified in EDTA and were than immunoreacted for synaptophysin (ICN Biomedicals) using the avidin-biotin reaction (ABC kit, Vector Labs). The tissue was then prepared for light microscopic surface preparation, radial sections of 5 microns, and serial section electron microscopy. At a light microscopic level, the inner spiral bundle, tunnel spiral bundle, upper tunnel crossing fibers and the base of outer hair cells were stained. At the base of outer hair cells, the immunoreactivity was seen to decrease from the base to the apex and from the first to third outer hair cells. At an electron microscopic level, immunoreactivity at the base of outer hair cells was limited to vesiculated efferent fibers. The degree of immunoreactivity between adjacent efferent fibers varied significantly. Immunoreactive vesiculated endings were also found in the supranuclear region of outer hair cells.

Confocal laser microscopical images of calcium distribution and intracellular organelles in the outer hair cell isolated from the guinea pig cochlea

We report the use of a confocal laser fluorescence microscope to observe the distribution of cytosolic Ca2+ and the localization of intracellular organelles and cytoskeleton in the isolated outer hair cell (OHC). Membrane-bound Ca2+ stained by chlortetracycline was mainly seen in the subcuticular region, the infranuclear region, and the region adjacent to the lateral wall. In contrast, the central portion of the cytoplasm and nucleus were devoid of detectable fluorescence of membrane-associated Ca2+, but were relatively rich in free Ca2+. The cuticular plate showed a lack of both membrane-bound and free Ca2+. Fluorescent clusters of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum were predominantly seen in the infracuticular and infranuclear regions, and some were associated with the lateral wall. These two types of cytosolic organelles which fluoresced upon chlortetracycline treatment are therefore presumed to sequester calcium. The characteristic distribution of the endoplasmic reticulum was observed in coincidence with the infracuticular network of F-actin. The subsurface cistern, which was shown to be analogous to the endoplasmic reticulum in terms of its biological function, is likely to be the source of Ca2+ for the actin-mediated process.

Structure and composition of stereocilia cross-links in normal and hydropic cochleas of the guinea pig

Structure and composition of stereocilia cross-links were investigated cytochemically in normal and hydropic cochleas of the guinea pig. The electron-dense markers colloidal thorium and cationized ferritin were used for visualization. Side links as well as tip links were visualized using both markers. Cationized ferritin allowed a better visualization of the delicate cross-link substructure than did colloidal thorium. Following digestion with neuraminidase, cross-link reactivity for colloidal thorium was virtually abolished. However, the basic structure of the cross-links could still be observed as a result of routine post-fixation and contrast staining. In both 3- and 6-month hydropic cochleas glycocalyx reactivity of the stereocilia appeared to be unaltered, provided that stereocilia were still present. However, loss of cross-links of the outer hair cells - resulting in disarrangement of the stereociliary bundles - was observed in hydropic cochleas. Our results suggest that cross-links are a separate morphological and cytochemical entity, which is different from the glycocalyx. Furthermore, loss of stereocilia cross-links, with concomitant disarrangement of the outer hair cell stereociliary bundle, appears to be one of the early pathological features of surgically induced endolymphatic hydrops, which might be responsible for permanent sensorineural hearing loss.

NMDA receptors in frog semicircular canals

The effects of competitive (2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid) and noncompetitive (Mg2+, ketamine and kynurenic acid) NMDA receptor antagonists were tested in isolated semicircular canals of the frog. All these antagonists reduced the resting firing rate recorded from the whole ampullar nerve of the posterior canal. This suggests that NMDA receptors are present at the cytoneural junctions between hair cells and afferent nerve terminals in frog vestibular organs.