Expression of alpha 4 and beta 2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit mRNA and localization of alpha-bungarotoxin binding proteins in the rat vestibular periphery

The mammalian efferent vestibular system utilizes cholinergic mechanisms to excite primary vestibular afferents

Electrical stimulation of the mammalian efferent vestibular system (EVS) predominantly excites primary vestibular afferents along two distinct time scales. Although roles for acetylcholine (ACh) have been demonstrated in other vertebrates, synaptic mechanisms underlying mammalian EVS actions are not well-characterized. To determine if activation of ACh receptors account for efferent-mediated afferent excitation in mammals, we recorded afferent activity from the superior vestibular nerve of anesthetized C57BL/6 mice while stimulating EVS neurons in the brainstem, before and after administration of cholinergic antagonists. Using a normalized coefficient of variation (CV*), we broadly classified vestibular afferents as regularly- (CV* < 0.1) or irregularly-discharging (CV* > 0.1) and characterized their responses to midline or ipsilateral EVS stimulation. Afferent responses to efferent stimulation were predominantly excitatory, grew in amplitude with increasing CV*, and consisted of fast and slow components that could be identified by differences in rise time and post-stimulus duration. Both efferent-mediated excitatory components were larger in irregular afferents with ipsilateral EVS stimulation. Our pharmacological data show, for the first time in mammals, that muscarinic AChR antagonists block efferent-mediated slow excitation whereas the nicotinic AChR antagonist DHβE selectively blocks efferent-mediated fast excitation, while leaving the efferent-mediated slow component intact. These data confirm that mammalian EVS actions are predominantly cholinergic.

A review of efferent cholinergic synaptic transmission in the vestibular periphery and its functional implications

It has been over 60 years since peripheral efferent vestibular terminals were first identified in mammals, and yet the function of the efferent vestibular system remains obscure. One reason for the lack of progress may be due to our deficient understanding of the peripheral efferent synapse. Although vestibular efferent terminals were identified as cholinergic less than a decade after their anatomical characterization, the cellular mechanisms that underlie the properties of these synapses have had to be inferred. In this review we examine how recent mammalian studies have begun to reveal both nicotinic and muscarinic effects at these terminals and therefore provide a context for fast and slow responses observed in classic electrophysiological studies of the mammalian efferent vestibular system, nearly 40 years ago. Although incomplete, these new results together with those of recent behavioral studies are helping to unravel the mysterious and perplexing action of the efferent vestibular system. Armed with this information, we may finally appreciate the behavioral framework in which the efferent vestibular system operates.

Principles of vestibular pharmacotherapy

Ideally, vestibular pharmacotherapy is intended, through specific and targeted molecular actions, to significantly alleviate vertigo symptoms, to protect or repair the vestibular sensory network under pathologic conditions, and to promote vestibular compensation, with the eventual aim of improving the patient's quality of life. In fact, in order to achieve this aim, considerable progress still needs to be made. The lack of information on the etiology of vestibular disorders and the pharmacologic targets to modulate, as well as the technical challenge of targeting a drug to its effective site are some of the main issues yet to be overcome. In this review, my intention is to provide an account of the therapeutic principles that have shaped current vestibular pharmacotherapy and to further explore crucial questions that must be taken into consideration in order to develop targeted and specific pharmacologic therapies for each type and stage of vestibular disorders.

Pharmacologically distinct nicotinic acetylcholine receptors drive efferent-mediated excitation in calyx-bearing vestibular afferents

Electrical stimulation of vestibular efferent neurons rapidly excites the resting discharge of calyx/dimorphic (CD) afferents. In turtle, this excitation arises when acetylcholine (ACh), released from efferent terminals, directly depolarizes calyceal endings by activating nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs). Although molecular biological data from the peripheral vestibular system implicate most of the known nAChR subunits, specific information about those contributing to efferent-mediated excitation of CD afferents is lacking. We sought to identify the nAChR subunits that underlie the rapid excitation of CD afferents and whether they differ from α9α10 nAChRs on type II hair cells that drive efferent-mediated inhibition in adjacent bouton afferents. We recorded from CD and bouton afferents innervating the turtle posterior crista during electrical stimulation of vestibular efferents while applying several subtype-selective nAChR agonists and antagonists. The α9α10 nAChR antagonists, α-bungarotoxin and α-conotoxin RgIA, blocked efferent-mediated inhibition in bouton afferents while leaving efferent-mediated excitation in CD units largely intact. Conversely, 5-iodo-A-85380, sazetidine-A, varenicline, α-conotoxin MII, and bPiDDB (N,N-dodecane-1,12-diyl-bis-3-picolinium dibromide) blocked efferent-mediated excitation in CD afferents without affecting efferent-mediated inhibition in bouton afferents. This pharmacological profile suggested that calyceal nAChRs contain α6 and β2, but not α9, nAChR subunits. Selective blockade of efferent-mediated excitation in CD afferents distinguished dimorphic from calyx afferents by revealing type II hair cell input. Dimorphic afferents differed in having higher mean discharge rates and a mean efferent-mediated excitation that was smaller in amplitude yet longer in duration. Molecular biological data demonstrated the expression of α9 in turtle hair cells and α4 and β2 in associated vestibular ganglia.

Neuropharmacology of vestibular system disorders

This work reviews the neuropharmacology of the vestibular system, with an emphasis on the mechanism of action of drugs used in the treatment of vestibular disorders. Otolaryngologists are confronted with a rapidly changing field in which advances in the knowledge of ionic channel function and synaptic transmission mechanisms have led to the development of new scientific models for the understanding of vestibular dysfunction and its management. In particular, there have been recent advances in our knowledge of the fundamental mechanisms of vestibular system function and drug mechanisms of action. In this work, drugs acting on vestibular system have been grouped into two main categories according to their primary mechanisms of action: those with effects on neurotransmitters and neuromodulator receptors and those that act on voltage-gated ion channels. Particular attention is given in this review to drugs that may provide additional insight into the pathophysiology of vestibular diseases. A critical review of the pharmacology and highlights of the major advances are discussed in each case.

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype expression in avian vestibular hair cells, nerve terminals and ganglion cells

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) are widely expressed in the CNS and peripheral nervous system and play an important role in modulating the cell activity and function. We have shown that the cholinergic agonist carbachol reduces the pigeon's inwardly rectifying potassium channel (pKir2.1) ionic currents in native vestibular hair cells. We have cloned and sequenced pigeon mAChR subtypes M2-M5 and we have studied the expression of all five mAChR subtypes (M1-M5) in the pigeon vestibular end organs (semicircular canal ampullary cristae and utricular maculae), vestibular nerve fibers and the vestibular (Scarpa's) ganglion using tissue immunohistochemistry (IH), dissociated single cell immunocytochemistry (IC) and Western blotting (WB). We found that vestibular hair cells, nerve fibers and ganglion cells each expressed all five (M1-M5) mAChR subtypes. Two of the three odd-numbered mAChRs (M1, M5) were present on the hair cell cilia, supporting cells and nerve terminals. And all three odd numbered mAChRs (M1, M3 and M5) were expressed on cuticular plates, myelin sheaths and Schwann cells. Even-numbered mAChRs were seen on the nerve terminals. M2 was also shown on the cuticular plates and supporting cells. Vestibular efferent fibers and terminals were not identified in our studies. Results from WB of the dissociated vestibular epithelia, nerve fibers and vestibular ganglia were consistent with the results from IH and IC. Our findings suggest that there is considerable co-expression of the subtypes on the neural elements of the labyrinth. Further electrophysiological and pharmacological studies should delineate the mechanisms of action of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors on structures in the labyrinth.

Mechanisms of efferent-mediated responses in the turtle posterior crista

To study the cellular mechanisms of efferent actions, we recorded from vestibular-nerve afferents close to the turtle posterior crista while efferent fibers were electrically stimulated. Efferent-mediated responses were obtained from calyx-bearing (CD, calyx and dimorphic) afferents and from bouton (B) afferents distinguished by their neuroepithelial locations into BT units near the torus and BM units at intermediate sites. The spike discharge of CD units is strongly excited by efferent stimulation, whereas BT and BM units are inhibited, with BM units also showing a postinhibitory excitation. Synaptic activity was recorded intracellularly after spikes were blocked. Responses of BT/BM units to single efferent shocks consist of a brief depolarization followed by a prolonged hyperpolarization. Both components reflect variations in hair-cell quantal release rates and are eliminated by pharmacological antagonists of alpha9/alpha10 nicotinic receptors. Blocking calcium-dependent SK potassium channels converts the biphasic response into a prolonged depolarization. Results can be explained, as in other hair-cell systems, by the sequential activation of alpha9/alpha10 and SK channels. In BM units, the postinhibitory excitation is based on an increased rate of hair-cell quanta and depends on the preceding inhibition. There is, in addition, an efferent-mediated, direct depolarization of BT/BM and CD fibers. In CD units, it is the exclusive efferent response. Nicotinic antagonists have different effects on hair-cell efferent actions and on the direct depolarization of CD and BT/BM units. Ultrastructural studies, besides confirming the efferent innervation of type II hair cells and calyx endings, show that turtle efferents commonly contact afferent boutons terminating on type II hair cells.

Expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha9 in type II vestibular hair cells of rats

AIM

To explore the cell specific existence of alpha 9 AChR in the vestibular type II hair cells (VHC II) of rats.

METHODS

To detect the expression of alpha 9 AChR messenger RNA (mRNA) in the vestibular endorgans and single VHC II of rats by using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique and the single cell RT-PCR technique, respectively.

RESULTS

It was shown that alpha 9 AChR mRNA was detected in the vestibular endorgans. By using single-cell RT-PCR, mRNA encoding alpha 9 AChR was also detected in the VHC II of the rats. Sequence analysis of the PCR products confirmed identity to corresponding cDNA sequence in the predicted region.

CONCLUSION

We established a method which could effectively detect the cell specific expression of mRNA in an individual VHC. Present data confirm that alpha 9 AChR mRNA is expressed in the VHC II of rats and indicates that alpha 9 AChR may function as a mediator of efferent cholinergic signaling in mammalian VHC.

Alpha-9 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor immunoreactivity in the rodent vestibular labyrinth

Vestibular tissues (cristae ampullares, macular otolithic organs, and Scarpa's ganglia) in chinchilla, rat, and guinea pig were examined for immunoreactivity to the alpha9 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit. The alpha9 antibody was generated against a conserved peptide present in the intracellular loop of the predicted protein sequence of the guinea pig alpha9 nAChR subunit. In the vestibular periphery, staining was observed in calyces around type I hair cells, at the synaptic pole of type II hair cells, and in varying levels in Scarpa's ganglion cells. Ganglion cells were also triply labeled to detect alpha9, calretinin, and peripherin. Calretinin labels calyx-only afferents. Peripherin labels bouton-only afferents. Dimorphic afferents, which have both calyx and bouton endings, are not labeled by calretinin or peripherin. In these experiments, alpha9 was expressed in both calyx and dimorphic afferents. A subpopulation of small ganglion cells did not contain the alpha9 nAChR but did stain for peripherin. We surmise that these are bouton-only afferents. Bouton (regularly discharging) afferents also show efferent responses, although they are qualitatively different from those in irregularly discharging (calyx and dimorphic) afferents, much slower and longer lasting. Thus, regular afferents are probably more affected via a muscarinic cholinergic or a peptidergic mechanism, with a much smaller superimposed fast nicotinic-type response. This latter response could be due to one of the other nicotinic receptors that have been described in studies from other laboratories.

In silico analysis of 2085 clones from a normalized rat vestibular periphery 3' cDNA library

The inserts from 2400 cDNA clones isolated from a normalized Rattus norvegicus vestibular periphery cDNA library were sequenced and characterized. The Wackym-Soares vestibular 3' cDNA library was constructed from the saccular and utricular maculae, the ampullae of all three semicircular canals and Scarpa's ganglia containing the somata of the primary afferent neurons, microdissected from 104 male and female rats. The inserts from 2400 randomly selected clones were sequenced from the 5' end. Each sequence was analyzed using the BLAST algorithm compared to the Genbank nonredundant, rat genome, mouse genome and human genome databases to search for high homology alignments. Of the initial 2400 clones, 315 (13%) were found to be of poor quality and did not yield useful information, and therefore were eliminated from the analysis. Of the remaining 2085 sequences, 918 (44%) were found to represent 758 unique genes having useful annotations that were identified in databases within the public domain or in the published literature; these sequences were designated as known characterized sequences. 1141 sequences (55%) aligned with 1011 unique sequences had no useful annotations and were designated as known but uncharacterized sequences. Of the remaining 26 sequences (1%), 24 aligned with rat genomic sequences, but none matched previously described rat expressed sequence tags or mRNAs. No significant alignment to the rat or human genomic sequences could be found for the remaining 2 sequences. Of the 2085 sequences analyzed, 86% were singletons. The known, characterized sequences were analyzed with the FatiGO online data-mining tool (http://fatigo.bioinfo.cnio.es/) to identify level 5 biological process gene ontology (GO) terms for each alignment and to group alignments with similar or identical GO terms. Numerous genes were identified that have not been previously shown to be expressed in the vestibular system. Further characterization of the novel cDNA sequences may lead to the identification of genes with vestibular-specific functions. Continued analysis of the rat vestibular periphery transcriptome should provide new insights into vestibular function and generate new hypotheses. Physiological studies are necessary to further elucidate the roles of the identified genes and novel sequences in vestibular function.

Assessment of differential gene expression in vestibular epithelial cell types using microarray analysis

Current global gene expression techniques allow the evaluation and comparison of the expression of thousands of genes in a single experiment, providing a tremendous amount of information. However, the data generated by these techniques are context-dependent, and minor differences in the individual biological samples, methodologies for RNA acquisition, amplification, hybridization protocol and gene chip preparation, as well as hardware and analysis software, lead to poor correlation between the results. One of the significant difficulties presently faced is the standardization of the protocols for the meaningful comparison of results. In the inner ear, the acquisition of RNA from individual cell populations remains a challenge due to the high density of the different cell types and the paucity of tissue. Consequently, laser capture microdissection was used to selectively collect individual cells and regions of cells from cristae ampullares followed by extraction of total RNA and amplification to amounts sufficient for high throughput analysis. To demonstrate hair cell-specific gene expression, myosin VIIA, calmodulin and alpha9 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit mRNAs were amplified using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). To demonstrate supporting cell-specific gene expression, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27kip1 mRNA was amplified using RT-PCR. Subsequent experiments with alpha9 RT-PCR demonstrated phenotypic differences between type I and type II hair cells, with expression only in type II hair cells. Using the laser capture microdissection technique, microarray expression profiling demonstrated 408 genes with more than a five-fold difference in expression between the hair cells and supporting cells, of these 175 were well annotated. There were 97 annotated genes with greater than a five-fold expression difference in the hair cells relative to the supporting cells, and 78 annotated genes with greater than a five-fold expression difference in the supporting cells relative to the hair cells.

Expression of G-protein alpha subunit genes in the vestibular periphery of Rattus norvegicus and their chromosomal mapping

OBJECTIVE

Heterotrimeric G-proteins play an important role in mediating signals transduced across the cell membrane by membrane-bound receptors. The precise role of G-proteins and their coupled receptors in the physiology of the vestibular neuroepithelium is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to better define the role of these proteins by examining their expression in the rat vestibular periphery and characterizing their chromosomal location.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

To characterize G-protein alpha subunit gene expression in the target tissue of interest, we performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using degenerate G-protein primers corresponding to conserved regions in the G-protein alpha subunit coding sequence on a normalized rat vestibular cDNA library. PCR amplicons were cloned and 50 clones were randomly selected and sequenced. Radiation hybrid (RH) mapping was used to determine the chromosomal location of G alpha(olf) and two previously identified G-protein alpha subunits--G alpha(i2) and G alpha(i2(vest))--in the rat genome.

RESULTS

The following G-protein alpha subunits were identified in the normalized cDNA library: G alpha(olf), G alpha(s), G alpha(o) and G alpha(s2). G alpha(olf) maps to chromosome 18 between markers D18Mit17b and D18Mgh2. G alpha(i2) maps to chromosome 8 between markers D8Rat65 and D8Mgh2. G alpha(i2(vest)) maps to chromosome 1 between markers D1Rat132 and D1Rat202. These chromosomal locations in the rat genome are syntenic to chromosomal regions in which the homologous G-protein alpha subunit genes have been localized in the human and mouse genomes, further validating RH mapping as an effective and accurate tool. We were unable to RH map the location of G alpha(o) due to its extensive homology with the hamster gene.

CONCLUSION

The characterization of G-protein alpha subunit gene expression in the vestibular periphery and the chromosomal localization of these genes in the rat revealed that a diverse group of these second messengers are expressed.

Radiation hybrid mapping of five muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype genes in Rattus norvegicus

Acetylcholine is the main neurotransmitter of the vestibular efferent system and a wide variety of muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are expressed in the vestibular periphery. The role of these receptors and in particular the role of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the physiology of the vestibular neuroepithelium is not understood. Congenic and consomic rats are a convenient way to investigate the involvement of candidate genes in the manifestation of defined traits. To use congenic or consomic rats to elucidate the roles of these receptors in vestibular physiology or pathology the chromosomal location of the genes encoding these receptors has to be determined. Using radiation hybrid (RH) mapping and a rat RH map server (www.rgd.mcw.edu/RHMAP SERVER/), we determined the chromosomal locations of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor genes in the rat (Rattus norvegicus). The m1-m5 muscarinic subtypes mapped to the following chromosomes: Chrm1, chromosome 1; Chrm2, chromosome 4; Chrm3, chromosome 17; Chrm4, chromosome 3; and Chrm5, chromosome 3. With the chromosomal location for each of these muscarinic subtypes known, it is now possible to develop congenic and consomic strains of rats that can be used to study the functions of each of these subtypes.

Calcitonin gene-related Peptide and choline acetyltransferase colocalization in the human vestibular periphery

Within the vestibular system, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has been localized in the efferent terminals and their brainstem neuronal cell bodies in several animal models. Presently, very few studies have verified these findings in the vestibular system in adult primates or humans. CGRP immunoreactivity (CGRPi) and its colocalization with choline acetyltransferase immunoreactivity (ChATi) in human vestibular end organs and Scarpa's ganglion were studied using polyclonal antibodies against CGRP and ChAT, at the light-microscopic level. The CGRPi axons ramified to produce numerous CGRPi terminals throughout the neurosensory epithelium of the maculae and cristae, primarily in the basal and midbasal areas. Numerous CGRPi efferent terminals made contact with both type II vestibular hair cells and the afferent chalices surrounding type I vestibular hair cells. All CGRP immunoreactive fibers also exhibited ChATi. As in the animal models, no CGRPi was found within Scarpa's ganglion. This study provides evidence for CGRPi in the human vestibular periphery and validates the biomedical relevance of the current animal models.

Radiation hybrid mapping of 11 alpha and beta nicotinic acetylcholine receptor genes in Rattus norvegicus

Acetylcholine is the main neurotransmitter of the vestibular efferents and a wide variety of muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are expressed in the vestibular periphery. To date, 11 nicotinic subunits (alpha and beta) have been reported in mammals. Previously, our group [Brain Res. 778 (1997) 409] reported that these nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha and beta subunits were differentially expressed in the vestibular periphery of the rat. To begin an understanding of the molecular genetics of these vestibular efferents, this study examined the chromosomal locations of these nicotinic acetylcholine receptor genes in the rat (Rattus norvegicus). Using radiation hybrid mapping and a rat radiation hybrid map server (www.rgd.mcw.edu/RHMAP SERVER/), we determined the chromosomal position for each of these genes. The alpha2-7, alpha9, alpha10, and beta2-4 nicotinic subunits mapped to the following chromosomes: alpha2, chr. 15; alpha3, chr. 8; alpha4, chr. 3; alpha5, chr. 8; alpha6, chr. 16; alpha7, chr. 1; alpha9, chr. 14; alpha10, chr. 7; beta2, chr. 2; beta3, chr. 16; and beta4, chr. 8. With the location for each of these nicotinic subunits known, it is now possible to develop consomic and/or congenic strains of rats that can be used to study the functional genomics of each of these subunits.

Ligand-gated purinergic receptors are differentially expressed in the adult rat vestibular periphery

To further characterize the pattern of expression of the ligand-gated purinergic P2X receptors in the peripheral vestibular system, we conducted reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction amplification of P2X1 and P2X2 messenger RNA extracted from adult rat vestibular ganglia (Scarpa's ganglia) and vestibular end organs. Transcripts encoding P2X1 were found in both Scarpa's ganglia and the end organs, but transcripts encoding P2X2 were found only in the vestibular end organs. These results support previous electrophysiological data, and they provide a more complete understanding of the specific role of purinergic (adenosine-5'-triphosphate) transmission in the vestibular periphery.

Alpha and beta subunits of acetylcholine receptors in the human inner ear

The localization and distribution of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (n-ACh-r) was characterized by studying alpha and beta subunits in the adult human inner ear by FITC fluorescence technique. In the cochlea, distinct fluorescence staining occurred for beta subunits in outer hair cells (OHCs), but no alpha subunits were identified. Beta subunits differ quantitatively between the three rows of OHCs, decreasing along a base-to-apex gradient in the cochlea. Both alpha and beta subunits were identified on spiral ganglion cells, adjacent nerve fibres and in vestibular hair cells (HCs). It would appear that they form an active complex in n-ACh-r at these locations.

Topographic distribution of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the cristae of a turtle

The neurochemical basis of cholinergic efferent modulation of afferent function in the vestibular periphery remains incompletely understood; however, there is cellular, biochemical and molecular biological evidence for both muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors (nAChRs) in this system. This study examined the topographic distribution of alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BTX) nAChRs in the cristae of a turtle species. Cristae were perfusion-fixed, cut at 20 micrometer on a cryostat and incubated with alpha-BTX or polyclonal antibodies raised against Torpedo nAChR. Light microscopy showed abundant specific labeling of nAChR in the central zone of each hemicrista on the calyx-bearing afferents surrounding type I hair cells and on the base of the type II hair cells. Within the peripheral zone, dense labeling of type II hair cells near the torus and sparse or no label was observed on type II hair cells near the planum. The alpha-BTX binding showed a similar pattern within the cristae. The similarity between the topographic distribution of alpha-BTX binding nAChR and of efferent inhibition of afferents supports the notion that the inhibitory effect of afferents is mediated by nAChR.

Molecules, Motion, and Man

The application of cell and molecular biology techniques to vestibular research is resulting in rapid changes in our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of vestibular function. The clinical problems encountered in space travel together with the acute and chronic vestibular dysfunction affecting many of the patients otolaryngologists care for have driven this research at a rapid pace. A review of these methods and highlights of the major advances are discussed. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1998;118:S16-S24.)

ARIA is heavily expressed in rat peripheral auditory and vestibular ganglia

The ARIA (acetylcholine receptor inducing activity) polypeptide is a member of the neuregulin gene family. It was originally purified on the basis of its ability to induce skeletal muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). ARIA mRNA is expressed in ventral horn motor neurons and brain cholinergic neurons. We report here that ARIA mRNA is heavily expressed in the embryonic, developing, and adult peripheral auditory and vestibular ganglia, the spiral ganglion and Scarpa's ganglion. Neither ganglion is cholinergic, but both express mRNAs for nicotinic and muscarinic receptors. The expression of ARIA in these ganglia may be related to the regulation of cholinergic receptors or a more general role for ARIA in growth and development.

Differential expression of alpha2-7, alpha9 and beta2-4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit mRNA in the vestibular end-organs and Scarpa's ganglia of the rat

To further characterize the pattern of expression of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits in the peripheral vestibular system, we conducted RT-PCR of all known mammalian nAChR alpha and beta subunits in mRNA extracted from adult rat vestibular primary afferent neurons (Scarpa's ganglia) and vestibular end-organs. Transcripts encoding the alpha2-7 and beta2-4 nAChR subunits were found in the vestibular ganglia, while alpha3, alpha5-7, alpha9 and beta2-4 nAChR subunits were expressed in the vestibular end-organs. These results support previous electrophysiological, immunocytochemical and molecular biological data, and also provide a more complete understanding of the role of nAChRs in the neurochemical transmission subserving the efferent-afferent interaction in the vestibular periphery.

Molecular temporal bone pathology: I. Historical foundation

The application of molecular biology techniques to temporal bone research is resulting in rapid changes in our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of auditory, facial nerve, and vestibular function. The use of the polymerase chain reaction, cDNA libraries, and in situ hybridization histochemistry, the determination of genetic defects, and the manipulation of transgenic animals are the molecular biology tools that are available to approach these research problems. Knowledge of the molecular pathology that results in the otologic and neuro-otologic dysfunction many of our patients experience is currently in its infancy. A review of the historical foundation of temporal bone pathology and the evolution of the application of cell and molecular biology methods to archival celloidin-embedded human temporal bone material is presented.

Expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor mRNA in the adult rat peripheral vestibular system

The mRNA expression of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits was determined in adult rat vestibular end-organs and in Scarpa's ganglion (SCG) by in situ hybridization with [35S] riboprobes. Neurons in the SCG expressed the alpha 4-7 and beta 2-3 mRNAs, but not alpha 3 or beta 4 mRNAs. Not all SCG neurons expressed every mRNA found in SCG. The alpha 6 and beta 2-3 riboprobes labeled all neurons, but alpha 4, alpha 5, and alpha 7 mRNAs were selectively expressed in one or more subpopulations of SCG neurons. Vestibular sensory hair cells, in contrast, expressed only alpha 9 mRNA.

Distribution of efferent cholinergic terminals and alpha-bungarotoxin binding to putative nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the human vestibular end-organs

Although acetylcholine (ACh) has been identified as the primary neurotransmitter of the efferent vestibular system in most animals studied, no direct evidence exists that ACh is the efferent neurotransmitter of the human vestibular system. Choline acetyltransferase immunohistochemistry (ChATi), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) histochemistry, and alpha-bungarotoxin binding were used in human vestibular end-organs to address this question. ChATi and AChE activity was found in numerous bouton-type terminals contacting the basal area of type II vestibular hair cells and the afferent chalices surrounding type I hair cells; alpha-bungarotoxin binding suggested the presence of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on type II vestibular hair cells and on the afferent chalices surrounding type I hair cells. This study provides evidence that the human efferent vestibular axons and terminals are cholinergic and that the receptors receiving this innervation may be nicotinic.