1
|
Lipovsek M. Comparative biology of the amniote vestibular utricle. Hear Res 2024; 448:109035. [PMID: 38763033 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2024.109035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
The sensory epithelia of the auditory and vestibular systems of vertebrates have shared developmental and evolutionary histories. However, while the auditory epithelia show great variation across vertebrates, the vestibular sensory epithelia appear seemingly more conserved. An exploration of the current knowledge of the comparative biology of the amniote utricle, a vestibular sensory epithelium that senses linear acceleration, shows interesting instances of variability between birds and mammals. The distribution of sensory hair cell types, the position of the line of hair bundle polarity reversal and the properties of supporting cells show marked differences, likely impacting vestibular function and hair cell regeneration potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Lipovsek
- Ear Institute, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cepeda AP, Ninov M, Neef J, Parfentev I, Kusch K, Reisinger E, Jahn R, Moser T, Urlaub H. Proteomic Analysis Reveals the Composition of Glutamatergic Organelles of Auditory Inner Hair Cells. Mol Cell Proteomics 2024; 23:100704. [PMID: 38128648 PMCID: PMC10832297 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2023.100704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In the ear, inner hair cells (IHCs) employ sophisticated glutamatergic ribbon synapses with afferent neurons to transmit auditory information to the brain. The presynaptic machinery responsible for neurotransmitter release in IHC synapses includes proteins such as the multi-C2-domain protein otoferlin and the vesicular glutamate transporter 3 (VGluT3). Yet, much of this likely unique molecular machinery remains to be deciphered. The scarcity of material has so far hampered biochemical studies which require large amounts of purified samples. We developed a subcellular fractionation workflow combined with immunoisolation of VGluT3-containing membrane vesicles, allowing for the enrichment of glutamatergic organelles that are likely dominated by synaptic vesicles (SVs) of IHCs. We have characterized their protein composition in mice before and after hearing onset using mass spectrometry and confocal imaging and provide a fully annotated proteome with hitherto unidentified proteins. Despite the prevalence of IHC marker proteins across IHC maturation, the profiles of trafficking proteins differed markedly before and after hearing onset. Among the proteins enriched after hearing onset were VAMP-7, syntaxin-7, syntaxin-8, syntaxin-12/13, SCAMP1, V-ATPase, SV2, and PKCα. Our study provides an inventory of the machinery associated with synaptic vesicle-mediated trafficking and presynaptic activity at IHC ribbon synapses and serves as a foundation for future functional studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreia P Cepeda
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Momchil Ninov
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany; Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jakob Neef
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Auditory Neuroscience & Synaptic Nanophysiology Group Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Iwan Parfentev
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kathrin Kusch
- Functional Auditory Genomics Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ellen Reisinger
- Gene Therapy for Hearing Impairment and Deafness, Department for Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Reinhard Jahn
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Tobias Moser
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Auditory Neuroscience & Synaptic Nanophysiology Group Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Henning Urlaub
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany; Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Chen H, Fang Q, Benseler F, Brose N, Moser T. Probing the role of the C 2F domain of otoferlin. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1299509. [PMID: 38152587 PMCID: PMC10751786 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1299509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Afferent synapses of cochlear inner hair cells (IHCs) employ a unique molecular machinery. Otoferlin is a key player in this machinery, and its genetic defects cause human auditory synaptopathy. We employed site-directed mutagenesis in mice to investigate the role of Ca2+ binding to the C2F domain of otoferlin. Substituting two aspartate residues of the C2F top loops, which are thought to coordinate Ca2+-ions, by alanines (OtofD1841/1842A) abolished Ca2+-influx-triggered IHC exocytosis and synchronous signaling in the auditory pathway despite substantial expression (~60%) of the mutant otoferlin in the basolateral IHC pole. Ca2+ influx of IHCs and their resting membrane capacitance, reflecting IHC size, as well as the number of IHC synapses were maintained. The mutant otoferlin showed a strong apex-to-base abundance gradient in IHCs, suggesting impaired protein targeting. Our results indicate a role of the C2F domain in otoferlin targeting and of Ca2+ binding by the C2F domain for IHC exocytosis and hearing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Han Chen
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Collaborative Research Center 889, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Auditory Neuroscience and Synaptic Nanophysiology Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Göttingen Graduate Center for Neurosciences, Biophysics and Molecular Biosciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Qinghua Fang
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Collaborative Research Center 889, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Auditory Neuroscience and Synaptic Nanophysiology Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Fritz Benseler
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nils Brose
- Collaborative Research Center 889, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Multiscale Bioimaging Cluster of Excellence (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Moser
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Collaborative Research Center 889, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Auditory Neuroscience and Synaptic Nanophysiology Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Multiscale Bioimaging Cluster of Excellence (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Quimby AE, Wei K, Adewole D, Eliades S, Cullen DK, Brant JA. Signal processing and stimulation potential within the ascending auditory pathway: a review. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1277627. [PMID: 38027521 PMCID: PMC10658786 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1277627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The human auditory system encodes sound with a high degree of temporal and spectral resolution. When hearing fails, existing neuroprosthetics such as cochlear implants may partially restore hearing through stimulation of auditory neurons at the level of the cochlea, though not without limitations inherent to electrical stimulation. Novel approaches to hearing restoration, such as optogenetics, offer the potential of improved performance. We review signal processing in the ascending auditory pathway and the current state of conventional and emerging neural stimulation strategies at various levels of the auditory system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra E. Quimby
- Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - Kimberly Wei
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Dayo Adewole
- Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Steven Eliades
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Communication Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - D. Kacy Cullen
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jason A. Brant
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lipovsek M, Elgoyhen AB. The evolutionary tuning of hearing. Trends Neurosci 2023; 46:110-123. [PMID: 36621369 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2022.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
After the transition to life on land, tympanic middle ears emerged separately in different groups of tetrapods, facilitating the efficient detection of airborne sounds and paving the way for high frequency sensitivity. The processes that brought about high-frequency hearing in mammals are tightly linked to the accumulation of coding sequence changes in inner ear genes; many of which were selected during evolution. These include proteins involved in hair bundle morphology, mechanotransduction and high endolymphatic potential, somatic electromotility for sound amplification, ribbon synapses for high-fidelity transmission of sound stimuli, and efferent synapses for the modulation of sound amplification. Here, we review the molecular evolutionary processes behind auditory functional innovation. Overall, the evidence to date supports the hypothesis that changes in inner ear proteins were central to the fine tuning of mammalian hearing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Lipovsek
- Ear Institute, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Ana Belén Elgoyhen
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres" (INGEBI), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Marchetta P, Eckert P, Lukowski R, Ruth P, Singer W, Rüttiger L, Knipper M. Loss of central mineralocorticoid or glucocorticoid receptors impacts auditory nerve processing in the cochlea. iScience 2022; 25:103981. [PMID: 35281733 PMCID: PMC8914323 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The key auditory signature that may associate peripheral hearing with central auditory cognitive defects remains elusive. Suggesting the involvement of stress receptors, we here deleted the mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors (MR and GR) using a CaMKIIα-based tamoxifen-inducible CreERT2/loxP approach to generate mice with single or double deletion of central but not cochlear MR and GR. Hearing thresholds of MRGRCaMKIIαCreERT2 conditional knockouts (cKO) were unchanged, whereas auditory nerve fiber (ANF) responses were larger and faster and auditory steady state responses were improved. Subsequent analysis of single MR or GR cKO revealed discrete roles for both, central MR and GR on cochlear functions. Limbic MR deletion reduced inner hair cell (IHC) ribbon numbers and ANF responses. In contrast, GR deletion shortened the latency and improved the synchronization to amplitude-modulated tones without affecting IHC ribbon numbers. These findings imply that stress hormone-dependent functions of central MR/GR contribute to “precognitive” sound processing in the cochlea. Top-down MR/GR signaling differentially contributes to cochlear sound processing Limbic MR stimulates auditory nerve fiber discharge rates Central GR deteriorates auditory nerve fiber synchrony
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philine Marchetta
- University of Tübingen, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Straße 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Philipp Eckert
- University of Tübingen, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Straße 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Robert Lukowski
- University of Tübingen, Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter Ruth
- University of Tübingen, Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Wibke Singer
- University of Tübingen, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Straße 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lukas Rüttiger
- University of Tübingen, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Straße 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marlies Knipper
- University of Tübingen, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Straße 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Rutherford MA, von Gersdorff H, Goutman JD. Encoding sound in the cochlea: from receptor potential to afferent discharge. J Physiol 2021; 599:2527-2557. [PMID: 33644871 PMCID: PMC8127127 DOI: 10.1113/jp279189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Ribbon-class synapses in the ear achieve analog to digital transformation of a continuously graded membrane potential to all-or-none spikes. In mammals, several auditory nerve fibres (ANFs) carry information from each inner hair cell (IHC) to the brain in parallel. Heterogeneity of transmission among synapses contributes to the diversity of ANF sound-response properties. In addition to the place code for sound frequency and the rate code for sound level, there is also a temporal code. In series with cochlear amplification and frequency tuning, neural representation of temporal cues over a broad range of sound levels enables auditory comprehension in noisy multi-speaker settings. The IHC membrane time constant introduces a low-pass filter that attenuates fluctuations of the receptor potential above 1-2 kHz. The ANF spike generator adds a high-pass filter via its depolarization-rate threshold that rejects slow changes in the postsynaptic potential and its phasic response property that ensures one spike per depolarization. Synaptic transmission involves several stochastic subcellular processes between IHC depolarization and ANF spike generation, introducing delay and jitter that limits the speed and precision of spike timing. ANFs spike at a preferred phase of periodic sounds in a process called phase-locking that is limited to frequencies below a few kilohertz by both the IHC receptor potential and the jitter in synaptic transmission. During phase-locking to periodic sounds of increasing intensity, faster and facilitated activation of synaptic transmission and spike generation may be offset by presynaptic depletion of synaptic vesicles, resulting in relatively small changes in response phase. Here we review encoding of spike-timing at cochlear ribbon synapses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark A. Rutherford
- Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Henrique von Gersdorff
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Hearing Research Center, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Effertz T, Moser T, Oliver D. Recent advances in cochlear hair cell nanophysiology: subcellular compartmentalization of electrical signaling in compact sensory cells. Fac Rev 2021; 9:24. [PMID: 33659956 PMCID: PMC7886071 DOI: 10.12703/r/9-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, genetics, physiology, and structural biology have advanced into the molecular details of the sensory physiology of auditory hair cells. Inner hair cells (IHCs) and outer hair cells (OHCs) mediate two key functions: active amplification and non-linear compression of cochlear vibrations by OHCs and sound encoding by IHCs at their afferent synapses with the spiral ganglion neurons. OHCs and IHCs share some molecular physiology, e.g. mechanotransduction at the apical hair bundles, ribbon-type presynaptic active zones, and ionic conductances in the basolateral membrane. Unique features enabling their specific function include prestin-based electromotility of OHCs and indefatigable transmitter release at the highest known rates by ribbon-type IHC active zones. Despite their compact morphology, the molecular machineries that either generate electrical signals or are driven by these signals are essentially all segregated into local subcellular structures. This review provides a brief account on recent insights into the molecular physiology of cochlear hair cells with a specific focus on organization into membrane domains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Effertz
- InnerEarLab, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37099 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Moser
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37099 Göttingen, Germany
- Auditory Neuroscience Group, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Synaptic Nanophysiology Group, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Multiscale Bioimaging Cluster of Excellence (MBExC), University of Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dominik Oliver
- Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Philipps University, Deutschhausstraße 2, 35037 Marburg, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Universities of Marburg and Giessen, Germany
- DFG Research Training Group, Membrane Plasticity in Tissue Development and Remodelling, GRK 2213, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Jeng JY, Carlton A, Johnson SL, Brown SDM, Holley MC, Bowl MR, Marcotti W. Biophysical and morphological changes in inner hair cells and their efferent innervation in the ageing mouse cochlea. J Physiol 2021; 599:269-287. [PMID: 33179774 PMCID: PMC7612127 DOI: 10.1113/jp280256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 09/18/2023] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Age-related hearing loss is a progressive hearing loss involving environmental and genetic factors, leading to a decrease in hearing sensitivity, threshold and speech discrimination. We compared age-related changes in inner hair cells (IHCs) between four mouse strains with different levels of progressive hearing loss. The surface area of apical coil IHCs (9-12 kHz cochlear region) decreases by about 30-40% with age. The number of BK channels progressively decreases with age in the IHCs from most mouse strains, but the basolateral membrane current profile remains unchanged. The mechanoelectrical transducer current is smaller in mice harbouring the hypomorphic Cdh23 allele Cdh23ahl (C57BL/6J; C57BL/6NTac), but not in Cdh23-repaired mice (C57BL/6NTacCdh23+ ), indicating that it could contribute to the different progression of hearing loss among mouse strains. The degree of efferent rewiring onto aged IHCs, most likely coming from the lateral olivocochlea fibres, was correlated with hearing loss in the different mouse strains. ABSTRACT Inner hair cells (IHCs) are the primary sensory receptors of the mammalian cochlea, transducing acoustic information into electrical signals that are relayed to the afferent neurons. Functional changes in IHCs are a potential cause of age-related hearing loss. Here, we have investigated the functional characteristics of IHCs from early-onset hearing loss mice harbouring the allele Cdh23ahl (C57BL/6J and C57BL/6NTac), from late-onset hearing loss mice (C3H/HeJ), and from mice corrected for the Cdh23ahl mutation (C57BL/6NTacCdh23+ ) with an intermediate hearing phenotype. There was no significant loss of IHCs in the 9-12 kHz cochlear region up to at least 15 months of age, but their surface area decreased progressively by 30-40% starting from ∼6 months of age. Although the size of the BK current decreased with age, IHCs retained a normal KCNQ4 current and resting membrane potential. These basolateral membrane changes were most severe for C57BL/6J and C57BL/6NTac, less so for C57BL/6NTacCdh23+ and minimal or absent in C3H/HeJ mice. We also found that lateral olivocochlear (LOC) efferent fibres re-form functional axon-somatic connections with aged IHCs, but this was seen only sporadically in C3H/HeJ mice. The efferent post-synaptic SK2 channels appear prior to the establishment of the efferent contacts, suggesting that IHCs may play a direct role in re-establishing the LOC-IHC synapses. Finally, we showed that the size of the mechanoelectrical transducer (MET) current from IHCs decreased significantly with age in mice harbouring the Cdh23ahl allele but not in C57BL/6NTacCdh23+ mice, indicating that the MET apparatus directly contributes to the progression of age-related hearing loss.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Yi Jeng
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Adam Carlton
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Stuart L. Johnson
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Steve D. M. Brown
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Matthew C. Holley
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Michael R. Bowl
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Walter Marcotti
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Wei M, Wang W, Liu Y, Mao X, Chen TS, Lin P. Protection of Cochlear Ribbon Synapses and Prevention of Hidden Hearing Loss. Neural Plast 2020; 2020:8815990. [PMID: 33204247 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8815990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
In the auditory system, ribbon synapses are vesicle-associated structures located between inner hair cells (IHCs) and spiral ganglion neurons that are implicated in the modulation of trafficking and fusion of synaptic vesicles at the presynaptic terminals. Synapse loss may result in hearing loss and difficulties with understanding speech in a noisy environment. This phenomenon happens without permanent hearing loss; that is, the cochlear synaptopathy is "hidden." Recent studies have reported that synapse loss might be critical in the pathogenesis of hidden hearing loss. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the formation, structure, regeneration, and protection of ribbon synapses will assist in the design of potential therapeutic strategies. In this review, we describe and summarize the following aspects of ribbon synapses: (1) functional and structural features, (2) potential mechanisms of damage, (3) therapeutic research on protecting the synapses, and (4) the role of synaptic regeneration in auditory neuropathy and the current options for synapse rehabilitation.
Collapse
|
11
|
Voorn RA, Vogl C. Molecular Assembly and Structural Plasticity of Sensory Ribbon Synapses-A Presynaptic Perspective. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E8758. [PMID: 33228215 PMCID: PMC7699581 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the mammalian cochlea, specialized ribbon-type synapses between sensory inner hair cells (IHCs) and postsynaptic spiral ganglion neurons ensure the temporal precision and indefatigability of synaptic sound encoding. These high-through-put synapses are presynaptically characterized by an electron-dense projection-the synaptic ribbon-which provides structural scaffolding and tethers a large pool of synaptic vesicles. While advances have been made in recent years in deciphering the molecular anatomy and function of these specialized active zones, the developmental assembly of this presynaptic interaction hub remains largely elusive. In this review, we discuss the dynamic nature of IHC (pre-) synaptogenesis and highlight molecular key players as well as the transport pathways underlying this process. Since developmental assembly appears to be a highly dynamic process, we further ask if this structural plasticity might be maintained into adulthood, how this may influence the functional properties of a given IHC synapse and how such plasticity could be regulated on the molecular level. To do so, we take a closer look at other ribbon-bearing systems, such as retinal photoreceptors and pinealocytes and aim to infer conserved mechanisms that may mediate these phenomena.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Alcohol Oxidoreductases/genetics
- Alcohol Oxidoreductases/metabolism
- Animals
- Co-Repressor Proteins/genetics
- Co-Repressor Proteins/metabolism
- Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics
- Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism
- Cytoskeleton/metabolism
- Cytoskeleton/ultrastructure
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
- Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner/metabolism
- Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner/ultrastructure
- Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer/metabolism
- Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer/ultrastructure
- Hair Cells, Vestibular/metabolism
- Hair Cells, Vestibular/ultrastructure
- Mechanotransduction, Cellular
- Mice
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism
- Neuronal Plasticity/genetics
- Neuropeptides/genetics
- Neuropeptides/metabolism
- Rats
- Synapses/metabolism
- Synapses/ultrastructure
- Synaptic Transmission/genetics
- Synaptic Vesicles/metabolism
- Synaptic Vesicles/ultrastructure
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roos Anouk Voorn
- Presynaptogenesis and Intracellular Transport in Hair Cells Junior Research Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Goettingen, 37075 Goettingen, Germany;
- Göttingen Graduate Center for Neurosciences, Biophysics and Molecular Biosciences, 37075 Goettingen, Germany
- Collaborative Research Center 889 “Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing”, 37075 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Christian Vogl
- Presynaptogenesis and Intracellular Transport in Hair Cells Junior Research Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Goettingen, 37075 Goettingen, Germany;
- Collaborative Research Center 889 “Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing”, 37075 Goettingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Jeng JY, Ceriani F, Olt J, Brown SDM, Holley MC, Bowl MR, Johnson SL, Marcotti W. Pathophysiological changes in inner hair cell ribbon synapses in the ageing mammalian cochlea. J Physiol 2020; 598:4339-4355. [PMID: 32710572 DOI: 10.1113/jp280018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is associated with the loss of inner hair cell (IHC) ribbon synapses, lower hearing sensitivity and decreased ability to understand speech, especially in a noisy environment. Little is known about the age-related physiological and morphological changes that occur at ribbon synapses. We show that the differing degrees of ARHL in four selected mouse stains is correlated with the loss of ribbon synapses, being most severe for the strains C57BL/6NTac and C57BL/6J, less so for C57BL/6NTacCdh23+ -Repaired and lowest for C3H/HeJ. Despite the loss of ribbon synapses with age, the volume of the remaining ribbons increased and the size and kinetics of Ca2+ -dependent exocytosis in IHCs was unaffected, indicating the presence of a previously unknown degree of functional compensation at ribbon synapses. Although the age-related morphological changes at IHC ribbon synapses contribute to the different progression of ARHL, without the observed functional compensation hearing loss could be greater. ABSTRACT Mammalian cochlear inner hair cells (IHCs) are specialized sensory receptors able to provide dynamic coding of sound signals. This ability is largely conferred by their ribbon synapses, which tether a large number of vesicles at the IHC's presynaptic active zones, allowing high rates of sustained synaptic transmission onto the afferent fibres. How the physiological and morphological properties of ribbon synapses change with age remains largely unknown. Here, we have investigated the biophysical and morphological properties of IHC ribbon synapses in the ageing cochlea (9-12 kHz region) of four mouse strains commonly used in hearing research: early-onset progressive hearing loss (C57BL/6J and C57BL/6NTac) and 'good hearing' strains (C57BL/6NTacCdh23+ and C3H/HeJ). We found that with age, both modiolar and pillar sides of the IHC exhibited a loss of ribbons, but there was an increased volume of those that remained. These morphological changes, which only occurred after 6 months of age, were correlated with the level of hearing loss in the different mouse strains, being most severe for C57BL/6NTac and C57BL/6J, less so for C57BL/6NTacCdh23+ and absent for C3H/HeJ strains. Despite the age-related reduction in ribbon number in three of the four strains, the size and kinetics of Ca2+ -dependent exocytosis, as well as the replenishment of synaptic vesicles, in IHCs was not affected. The degree of vesicle release at the fewer, but larger, individual remaining ribbon synapses colocalized with the post-synaptic afferent terminals is likely to increase, indicating the presence of a previously unknown degree of functional compensation in the ageing mouse cochlea.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Yi Jeng
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.,Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Federico Ceriani
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.,Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Jennifer Olt
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Steve D M Brown
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Matthew C Holley
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Michael R Bowl
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Stuart L Johnson
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.,Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Walter Marcotti
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.,Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Wong HTC, Zhang Q, Beirl AJ, Petralia RS, Wang YX, Kindt K. Synaptic mitochondria regulate hair-cell synapse size and function. eLife 2019; 8:e48914. [PMID: 31609202 PMCID: PMC6879205 DOI: 10.7554/elife.48914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory hair cells in the ear utilize specialized ribbon synapses. These synapses are defined by electron-dense presynaptic structures called ribbons, composed primarily of the structural protein Ribeye. Previous work has shown that voltage-gated influx of Ca2+ through CaV1.3 channels is critical for hair-cell synapse function and can impede ribbon formation. We show that in mature zebrafish hair cells, evoked presynaptic-Ca2+ influx through CaV1.3 channels initiates mitochondrial-Ca2+ (mito-Ca2+) uptake adjacent to ribbons. Block of mito-Ca2+ uptake in mature cells depresses presynaptic-Ca2+ influx and impacts synapse integrity. In developing zebrafish hair cells, mito-Ca2+ uptake coincides with spontaneous rises in presynaptic-Ca2+ influx. Spontaneous mito-Ca2+ loading lowers cellular NAD+/NADH redox and downregulates ribbon size. Direct application of NAD+ or NADH increases or decreases ribbon size respectively, possibly acting through the NAD(H)-binding domain on Ribeye. Our results present a mechanism where presynaptic- and mito-Ca2+ couple to confer proper presynaptic function and formation.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- 3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester/pharmacology
- Animals
- Animals, Genetically Modified
- Calcium/metabolism
- Calcium Channel Agonists/pharmacology
- Calcium Channel Blockers/pharmacology
- Calcium Channels, L-Type/genetics
- Calcium Channels, L-Type/metabolism
- Calcium Signaling
- Cell Size
- Embryo, Nonmammalian
- Evoked Potentials, Auditory/physiology
- Eye Proteins/chemistry
- Eye Proteins/genetics
- Eye Proteins/metabolism
- Gene Expression
- Hair Cells, Auditory/cytology
- Hair Cells, Auditory/drug effects
- Hair Cells, Auditory/metabolism
- Isradipine/pharmacology
- Mitochondria/drug effects
- Mitochondria/metabolism
- Mitochondria/ultrastructure
- NAD/metabolism
- Oxidation-Reduction
- Protein Binding
- Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
- Ruthenium Compounds/pharmacology
- Synapses/drug effects
- Synapses/metabolism
- Synapses/ultrastructure
- Synaptic Transmission
- Zebrafish
- Zebrafish Proteins/agonists
- Zebrafish Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Zebrafish Proteins/chemistry
- Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
- Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiu-tung C Wong
- Section on Sensory Cell Development and FunctionNational Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
- National Institutes of Health-Johns Hopkins University Graduate Partnership ProgramNational Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Qiuxiang Zhang
- Section on Sensory Cell Development and FunctionNational Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Alisha J Beirl
- Section on Sensory Cell Development and FunctionNational Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Ronald S Petralia
- Advanced Imaging CoreNational Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Ya-Xian Wang
- Advanced Imaging CoreNational Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Katie Kindt
- Section on Sensory Cell Development and FunctionNational Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Abstract
Connexin 26 and connexin 30 are the prevailing isoforms in the epithelial and connective tissue gap junction systems of the developing and mature cochlea. The most frequently encountered variants of the genes that encode these connexins, which are transcriptionally coregulated, determine complete loss of protein function and are the predominant cause of prelingual hereditary deafness. Reducing connexin 26 expression by Cre/loxP recombination in the inner ear of adult mice results in a decreased endocochlear potential, increased hearing thresholds, and loss of >90% of outer hair cells, indicating that this connexin is essential for maintenance of cochlear function. In the developing cochlea, connexins are necessary for intercellular calcium signaling activity. Ribbon synapses and basolateral membrane currents fail to mature in inner hair cells of mice that are born with reduced connexin expression, even though hair cells do not express any connexin. In contrast, pannexin 1, an alternative mediator of intercellular signaling, is dispensable for hearing acquisition and auditory function.
Collapse
|