Synaptic arrangements between inner hair cells and tunnel fibers in the mouse cochlea

Hair cells, the sensory cells of the organ of Corti, receive afferent innervation from the spiral ganglion neurons and efferent innervation from the superior olivary complex. The inner and outer hair cells are innervated by distinctive fiber systems. Our electron microscopical studies demonstrate, however, that inner hair cells, in addition to their own innervation, are also synaptically engaged with the fibers destined specifically to innervate outer hair cells, within both the afferent and efferent innervation. Serial sections of the afferent tunnel fibers (destined to innervate outer hair cells) in the apical turn demonstrate that, while crossing toward the tunnel of Corti, they receive en passant synapses from inner hair cells. Each inner hair cell (in a series of five in the apical turn) was innervated by two tunnel fibers, one on each side. We show here for the first time that, in the adult, the afferent tunnel fibers receive a ribbon synapse from inner hair cells and form reciprocal contacts on their spines. Vesiculated efferent fibers from the inner pillar bundle (which carries the innervation to outer hair cells) form triadic synapses with inner hair cells and their synaptic afferent dendrites; the vesiculated terminals of the lateral olivocochlear fibers from the inner spiral bundle synapse extensively on the afferent tunnel fibers, forming triadic synapses with both afferent tunnel fibers and their synaptic inner hair cells. This intense synaptic activity involving inner hair cells and both afferent and efferent tunnel fibers, at their crossroad, implies functional connections between both inner and outer hair cells in the process of hearing.

Reciprocal synapses between inner hair cell spines and afferent dendrites in the organ of corti of the mouse

We provide, for the first time, ultrastructural evidence for the differentiation of reciprocal synapses between afferent dendrites of spiral ganglion neurons and inner hair cells. Cochlear synaptogenesis of inner hair cells in the mouse occurs in two phases: before and after the onset of hearing at 9-10 postnatal (PN) days. In the first phase, inner hair cells acquire afferent innervation (1-5 PN). Reciprocal synapses form around 9-10 PN on spinous processes emitted by inner hair cells into the dendritic terminals, predominantly in conjunction with ribbon afferent synapses. During the second phase, which lasts up to 14 PN, synaptogenesis is led by the olivocochlear fibers of the lateral bundle, which induce the formation of compound and spinous synapses. The afferent dendrites themselves also develop recurrent presynaptic spines or form mounds of synaptic vesicles apposed directly across inner hair cell ribbon synapses. Thus, in the adult 2-month mouse, afferent dendrites of spiral ganglion neurons are not only postsynaptic but also presynaptic to inner hair cells, providing a synaptic loop for an immediate feedback response. Reciprocal synapses, together with triadic, converging, and serial synapses, are an integral part of the afferent ribbon synapse complex. We define the neuronal circuitry of the inner hair cell and propose that these minicircuits form synaptic trains that provide the neurological basis for local cochlear encoding of the initial acoustic signals.

Influence of neurotrophins on the synaptogenesis of inner hair cells in the deaf Bronx waltzer (bv) mouse organ of Corti in culture

The Bronx waltzer (bv) deaf mouse is characterized by massive degeneration of the primary auditory receptors, the inner hair cells, which occurs during the time of expected afferent synaptogenesis. The process is associated with degeneration and protracted division of the normally postmitotic afferent spiral ganglion neurons. To investigate the potential role of neurotrophins in the afferent synaptogenesis of inner hair cells, we exposed bv newborn cochleas in organotypic culture to brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and nerve growth factor (NGF), and also to gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), for up to 8 days. The study was done using light and electron microscopy. Only about 20% of the inner hair cells survived in culture, regardless of the treatment, similar to the number in the intact mutant in our colony. Depending on the exogenous treatment, this population consisted of either innervated ultrastructurally normal cells or denervated dedifferentiated cells wrapped-in lieu of nerve endings-by the supporting inner phalangeal and border cells. In the control and GABA cultures, inner hair cells were mostly denervated. BDNF and NT-3 alone or combined increased synaptogenesis and hair cell survival only during the first 3 days (by about 10%); however, the cells became denervated by 8 postnatal (PN). Only NGF induced stable innervation and differentiation of neurosensory relationships, including supernumerary innervation characteristic of the intact bv. Denervation among the remaining 20% of inner hair cells induced a reactive wrapping by inner phalangeal and border cells which evidently extended inner hair cell survival. Immunocytochemical studies of these reactive supporting cells were done in the intact (8 PN) mutant cochlea. The supporting cells that provide sustenance to the denervated inner hair cells displayed strong BDNF (and possibly NT-3) immunoreactivity. Subsequently, we revealed the presence of all three neurotrophins in the inner hair cell region of the developing (1-8 PN) cochlea of the normal ICR mouse. The inner hair cells expressed all three neurotrophins; BDNF prevailed in the inner phalangeal cells, NT-3 in the pillar cells and inner phalangeal cells, and NGF in the pillar cells.

IN CONCLUSION

initially, the 80% loss of inner hair cells is apparently caused by their failed afferent synaptogenesis. Exogenous neurotrophins influence synaptogenesis in the bv in culture, but NGF alone is successful in promoting stable neurosensory relationships. The presence of neurotrophins in supporting cells in the normal and degenerating cochlea indicates their role in the sustenance of inner hair cells.

Differentiation of spinous synapses in the mouse organ of corti

The inner hair cells, the primary auditory receptors, are perceived only as a means for transfer of sound signals via the auditory nerve to the central nervous system. During initial synaptogenesis, they receive relatively few and mainly somatic synapses. However, around the onset of hearing (10-14 postnatal days in the mouse), a complex network of local spinous synapses differentiates, involving inner hair cells, their afferent dendrites, and lateral olivocochlear terminals. Inner hair cell spines participate in triadic synapses between olivocochlear terminals and afferent dendrites. Triadic synapses have not yet been confirmed in the adult. Synaptic spines of afferent dendrites form axodendritic synapses with olivocochlear terminals and somatodendritic synapses with inner hair cells. The latter are of two types: ribbon-dendritic spines and stout dendritic spines surrounded only by a crown of synaptic vesicles. Formation of spinous afferent synapses results from sprouting of dendritic filopodia that intussuscept inner hair cell cytoplasm. This process continues in the adult, indicating ongoing synaptogenesis. Spinous processes of olivocochlear synaptic terminals contact adjacent afferent dendrites, thus integrating their connectivity. They develop about 14 postnatal days, but their presence in the adult has yet to be confirmed. Differentiation of spinous synapses in the organ of Corti results in a total increase of synaptic contacts and in a complexity of synaptic arrangements and connectivity. We propose that spinous synapses provide the morphological substrate for local processing of initial auditory signals within the cochlea.

Apoptosis of inner hair cells caused by laser ablation of their spiral ganglion neurons in cultures of the mouse organ of Corti

Laser beam ablation of spiral ganglion neurons was performed in seven organotypic cultures of the newborn mouse cochlea between 5 and 8 days in vitro, with a recovery period of from 18 hours to 3 days. Direct somatic injury (laser or mechanical) inflicted on hair cells does not necessarily cause their death; many of them survive, repair damage and re-establish their neurosensory connections. By contrast, laser irradiation and ablation of their afferent spiral ganglion neurons causes a most spectacular degeneration of sensory cells within 18-48 hours after the insult. Ultrastructurally, the degenerated hair cells-characteristically the inner hair cells-display "dark-cell vacuolar degeneration" that combines the signs of apoptotic death (the peripheral condensation of nuclear chromatin and nuclear pyknosis) with signs of cell edema, vacuolization and necrosis. The ultimate condensation of the cytoplasm gives the dead cells a jet black appearance. The irradiated spiral ganglion neurons die displaying similar pathological characteristics. The extent and locus of inner hair cell degeneration correspond to that of ablated spiral ganglion neurons: ultimately the ablation of one neuron causes degeneration of a single inner hair cell within the closest radial segment of the afferent innervation. The elimination of spiral ganglion neurons by mechanical means does not affect hair cell survival. It is inferred that the laser pulse acts as a stimulus depolarizing the neuronal membrane of the spiral ganglion neurons and their radial fibers and causing the excitotoxic death of their synaptic sensory cells through excessive stimulation of the glutamatergic receptors. Reciprocal pre-and postsynaptic synapses between the afferent dendrites and inner hair cells in culture could possibly serve as entryways of the stimulus. The pathogenesis of this apparent transsynaptically-induced apoptotic death of inner hair cells will be further examined in culture.

Abortive synaptogenesis as a factor in the inner hair cell degeneration in the Bronx Waltzer (bv) mutant mouse

The Bronx Waltzer (vb) mutation in the mouse results in the degeneration of most but not all of the primary auditory receptors, the inner hair cells, and their afferent neurons. We analyzed the ultrastructure of 94 inner hair cells in the intact postnatal mutant mouse and in neonatal cochleas in culture to understand the pathogenesis of hair cell death and to detect factors that may prevent it. The vb spiral neurons of the Bronx Waltzer display two distinctive features: some of them continue to divide mitotically for at least seven postnatal days, and the type I radial fibers that innervate inner hair cells display a deficiency in immunoexpression of GAD. The growing endings of spiral neurons converge around the inner hair cells or, in their absence, invade the outer hair cell region. Their profuse sprouting among inner spiral sulcus cells contributes to the characteristic ultrastructural picture of the bv cochlea. During the first three days after birth, 40% of the inner hair cells appear normal and innervated, 40% are mostly denervated and degenerating, and 20% are immature, with minimal or no neuronal appositions. However, in mutants 6 days and older only a few inner hair cells survive, and these show either normal or superfluous afferent innervation and axosomatic GABAergic efferent innervation. Degeneration of inner hair cells begins with a distention of the nuclear envelope and the ribosomal endoplasmic reticulum. The outer nuclear membrane eventually breaks, and exudate fills the cell interior. The cellular edema leads to cell death. We propose that success or failure in synaptic acquisition is a decisive factor in the survival or decline of the mutant inner hair cells. We also suggest that the developmental delay in maturation of the spiral ganglion neurons (type I) and the failure in their synaptogenesis may be caused by an impairment in neurotrophin (NT3/BDNF) synthesis by their mutant receptor cells.

Tunnel crossing fibers and their synaptic connections within the inner hair cell region in the organ of corti in the maturing mouse

Combined ultrastructural and immunocytochemical studies reveal that in the adolescent 12- to 17-day-old mouse the afferent tunnel crossing fibers that innervate outer hair cells receive synaptic contacts from three distinct sources: the GABAergic fibers (GABA = gamma-aminobutyric acid) of the lateral olivocochlear bundle, the non-GABAergic efferent tunnel crossing fibers, and the inner hair cells themselves. The GABAergic fibers give off collaterals that synapse with the afferent tunnel fibers as they cross the inner hair cell region. These collaterals also form synapses with afferent radial dendrites that are synaptically engaged with the inner hair cells. Vesiculated varicosities of non-GABAergic efferent tunnel fibers also synapse upon the outer spiral afferents. Most of this synaptic activity occurs within the inner pillar bundle. Distinctive for this region are synaptic aggregations in which several neuronal elements and inner hair cells are sequentially interconnected. Finally, most unexpected were the afferent ribbon synapses that inner hair cells-formed en passant on the shafts of the apparent afferent tunnel fibers. The findings indicate that: (1) the afferent tunnel (i.e., outer spiral) fibers may be postsynaptic to both the inner and the outer hair cells; (2) the non-GABAergic efferent and the afferent tunnel fibers form extensive synaptic connections before exiting the inner pillar bundle; (3) the GABAergic component of the lateral olivocochlear system modulates synaptically both radial and outer spiral afferents.

Terminal dendritic sprouting and reactive synaptogenesis in the postnatal organ of Corti in culture

Synaptogenesis in the organ of Corti between the primary receptors, the inner hair cells, and the peripheral processes of their afferent spiral ganglion neurons in the mouse lasts for 5 days postnatally (Sobkowicz et al. [1986] J. Neurocytol. 15:693-714). The transplantation of the organ into culture at the fifth postnatal day induces a reactive sprouting of dendritic terminals and an extensive formation of new ribbon synapses within 24 hours. This reactive synaptogenesis differs strikingly from the primary synaptogenesis and has been seen thus far only in the inner hair cells. The synaptically engaged neuronal endings sprout a multitude of filopodia that intussuscept the inner hair cells. The filopodial tips contain a heavy electron-dense matter that appears to attract the synaptic ribbons, which form new synaptic contacts with the growing processes. The intensity of the filopodial growth and synaptogenesis subsides in about 3 days; the filopodia undergo resorption, leaving behind fibrous cytoplasmic plaques mostly stored in the supranuclear part of the hair cells. However, occasional filopodial growth and formation of new synaptic connections continued. The data demonstrate that any disruption or disturbance of the initial synaptic contacts between the inner hair cells and their afferent neurons caused by transplantation results in prompt synaptic reacquisition. Furthermore, we suggest that the transitory phase of terminal sprouting and multiribbon synapse formation manifests a trophic dependence that develops postnatally between the synaptic cells.

Cellular interactions as a response to injury in the organ of Corti in culture

We discovered and described ultrastructurally the intricate relationships between the sensory cells and their supporting cells in cultures of the organ of Corti following laser beam irradiation. Injury was performed using a 440 nm nitrogen-dye pulse laser aimed at the cuticular plates of inner hair cells. Laser injury is compared with mechanical injury inflicted on the hair cell region by a pulled-glass pipette. Regardless of the type of injury, but depending on its severity, the surviving hair cells may: (1) lose their stereocilia but subsist at the surface of the organ; (2) retain contact with the reticular lamina but be overgrown by the processes of the supporting cells; or (3) become sequestered from the reticular lamina and internalized among the supporting cells, where they either remain dedifferentiated or regrow an apical process which regains contact with the surface of the organ. All supporting cells, including pillar and Deiters cells take part in wrapping their respective inner or outer hair cells. The supporting cells not only cover the injured sensory cells, but also invert their villi toward the maimed cuticular plates and release an extracellular matrix around them. We suggest that the supporting cells play a protective and trophic role in the recovery of injured hair cells.

Compound synapses within the GABAergic innervation of the auditory inner hair cells in the adolescent mouse

Ultrastructural investigation of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) component of the inner spiral bundle in adolescent mice revealed a pathway of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)-positive and -negative fibers and vesiculated endings that contact inner hair cells and their afferents through a complex of axosomatic and axodendritic synapses. Ultrastructural details were investigated by using conventional electron microscopy. Several synaptic arrangements were observed: Main axosomatic synapses form between vesiculated endings and individual or adjoining inner hair cells (interreceptor synapses). Spinous synapses form on long, spinelike processes that protrude from inner hair cells to reach distant efferent endings. The efferent endings associate with inner hair cells and their synaptic afferents through compound synapses-serial, "converging," and triadic-otherwise characteristic of sensory relay nuclei. Serial synapses form by the sequential presynaptic alignment of the efferent-->receptor-->afferent components. Converging synapses result from the simultaneous apposition of a receptor ribbon synapse and a presynaptic efferent terminal on a recipient afferent dendrite. Triadic synapses comprise a vesiculated efferent ending in contact with an inner hair cell and with its synaptic afferent. Additionally, efferent endings may form simple axodendritic and axoaxonal synapses with GAD-negative vesiculated endings. The combination of different synaptic arrangements leads to short chains of compound synapses. It is assumed that these synaptic patterns seen in the adolescent mouse represent adult synaptology. The patterns of synaptic connectivity suggest an integrative role for the GABA/GAD lateral efferent system, and imply its involvement in the pre- and postsynaptic modulation of auditory signals.

Post-traumatic survival and recovery of the auditory sensory cells in culture

Following mechanical injury in organotypic cultures, auditory hair cells show the ability to survive and to initially reform their apical specializations, cuticular plates and stereocilia, but none show incorporation of tritiated thymidine, the mitotic marker. Disruption of the reticular lamina and local injury to hair cell cuticular plates induces proliferation of supporting cells. The regenerating apices of inner hair cells are wrapped by the cells of the inner spiral sulcus and the inner phalangeal cells, while those of outer hair cells are wrapped by the phalangeal processes of Deiters' cells and outer spiral sulcus cells. Some of these hair cells subsequently resurface with newly formed tops. Hair cells that lose contact with the surface of the organ remain buried--but alive--deep within the epithelium. Our study provides evidence that the mammalian organ of Corti responds to injury not by the formation of new sensory cells but by the recovery of the pre-existing postmitotic hair cells.

The kinocilium of auditory hair cells and evidence for its morphogenetic role during the regeneration of stereocilia and cuticular plates

Auditory hair cells that survive mechanical injury in culture begin their recovery by reforming the kinocilium. This study is based on cultures of the organ of Corti of newborn mice and two control animals. The axonemal patterns were examined in 165 kinocilia in cross-section. In the immature and regenerating kinocilium, one of the normally peripheral doublets is frequently located inward, forming the modified 8 + 1 (double) form; the distribution of the remaining microtubules is irregular. As the cell matures, the 9 + 0 form predominates. Overall, 34-61% of auditory kinocilia consist of 9 + 0 microtubules. The 9 + 2 (single) form, previously thought to characterize the organelle, occurs only in about 3-14%, whereas the remaining population comprises the modified 8 + 1 (double) form. Normally, the kinocilium lasts only about 10 postnatal days; however, post-traumatic hair cells reform their kinocilia regardless of age. Concomitant with the regrowth of the kinocilium, the basal body and its cilium take a central location in the cuticular plate, stereocilia regrow, and the cytoplasmic area adjacent to the basal body displays pericentriolar fibrous densities, growth vesicles, and microtubules, all surrounded by actin filaments. Pericentriolar bodies nucleate microtubules. Involvement of microtubules is seen in the alignment of actin filaments and in the formation of the filamentous matrix of the cuticular plate. We propose that reformation of the kinocilium in recovering post-traumatic hair cells indicates the possible role of its basal body in the morphogenesis and differentiation of cuticular plates and stereocilia.

The efferents interconnecting auditory inner hair cells

The work describes the system of efferent terminals that interconnect inner hair cells through a chain of direct somatic synapses organized in repetitive patterns. The efferent boutons were discovered in the apical turns of 12-day-old (hearing) mice. Clusters or short rows of vesiculated boutons are located between adjoining hair cells at the lower half of the receptors, close to their modiolar side. The individual endings, about 1.2 microns in diameter, adjoin inner hair cells and form one synapse per hair cell. On the hair cell side, the synaptic contact is apposed by a classical postsynaptic cisterna. Within a cluster of endings, some synapse simultaneously with either or both neighbouring inner hair cells. The efferent boutons also connect synaptically with each other and with other--different in type--vesiculated and nonvesiculated endings. These endings seem to derive from the climbing collaterals of the inner spiral bundle, and we believe them to be GABAergic.

Presynaptic fibres of spiral neurons and reciprocal synapses in the organ of Corti in culture

Isolated segments of the newborn mouse organ of Corti were explanted together with the spiral ganglion components. Within the innervation provided by the spiral neurons, we observed presynaptic vesiculated nerve endings that form reciprocal ribbon-afferent/efferent synapses with inner hair cells. These intracochlear presynaptic fibres are characteristically located between adjoining inner hair cells, on the modiolar side, low and close to the supporting cells. The presynaptic fibres display different modes of synaptic connectivity, forming repetitive reciprocal synapses on single inner hair cells or on adjoining hair cells, or connecting adjoining inner hair cells through simultaneous efferent synapses. Many presynaptic fibres exhibit a distinctive ultrastructure: defined clusters of synaptic vesicles, dense core vesicles, coated vesicles, and mitochondria. These organelles occur focally at the synaptic sites; beyond the efferent synaptic specializations, the endings appear quite nondescript and afferent-like. We believe that the reciprocal synapses, although observed in cultures of the organ of Corti, represent real intracochlear synaptic arrangements providing a feedback mechanism between the primary sensory receptors and a special class of spiral ganglion cells that have yet to be recognized in the organ in situ.

Neuronal sprouting and synapse formation in response to injury in the mouse organ of Corti in culture

The effect of mechanical injury on induction of regenerative phenomena within the neurosensory epithelium was investigated in cultures of neonatal mouse cochlea. The oldest examined culture in which new neuronal growth followed insult, was injured at 13 days in vitro and fixed 24 h later. By far, the most vigorous regenerative reaction was observed in a 3-day culture 4 h post-injury. The reaction included sprouting of nerve fibers injured directly, synapse formation between the surviving hair cells and sprouting neuronal growth cones, wrapping of growing nerve fibers by extending processes of hair cell cytoplasm, and collateral sprouting of synaptically-engaged nerve endings and of nerve fibers in passage.

Freeze-fracture and lanthanum studies of the retinal microvasculature in diabetic rats

To see whether or not blood-retinal barrier breakdown during diabetes was associated with breakdown of the endothelial cell tight junctions or with other membrane alterations in the cells comprising the wall of the retinal microvasculature, streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat retinas were studied using lanthanum tracer and freeze-fracture electron microscopic morphometry. This study showed that endothelial cell tight junction permeability to lanthanum and luminal surface area were normal in these diabetic rats. However, freeze-fracture morphometry showed several alterations in the diabetic retinal microvessels. First, the endothelial cell membranes had abnormally large (80-120 nm) plasmalemmal vesicles not evident in the control retinas, suggesting that membrane turnover was abnormal. Second, endothelial cell P-face membranes at the blood front contained more larger particles than those in the control rats (P less than 0.05), implying an alteration in endothelial cell luminal membrane composition. Third, endothelial cell P-face membranes in areas of close apposition with pericyte membranes showed abnormal areas of particle clearing not seen in the control animals, suggesting a change in pericyte-endothelial cell interactions. Finally, pericyte membranes facing the neural retina contained increased numbers of plasmalemmal vesicles compared with control membranes (P less than 0.05). Moreover, the association of these vesicles with collagen fibrils in the extracellular space suggested an alteration in extracellular matrix turnover.

Biochemical and morphological differentiation of acetylcholinesterase-positive efferent fibers in the mouse cochlea

We have compared the biochemical expression of cholinergic enzymes with the morphological differentiation of efferent nerve fibers and endings in the cochlea of the postnatally developing mouse. Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) are present in the newborn cochlea at specific activities 63% and 25%, respectively, of their mature levels. The relative increases in ChAT, in AChE, and in its molecular forms over the newborn values start about day 4 and reach maturity by about day 10. The biochemical results correlate well with the massive presence of nerve fibers stained immunocytochemically for ChAT and AChE or enzymatically for AChE in the inner and outer hair cell regions. Ultrastructral studies, however, indicate the presence of only few vesiculated fibers and endings in the inner and outer hair cell regions. The appearance of large, cytologically mature endings occurs only toward the end of the third postnatal week. The discrepancy may be resolved in the electron microscopy using the enzymatic staining for AChE. Labeling is seen on many nonvesiculated fibers and endings in the hair cell regions, suggesting that the majority of the efferent fibers in the perinatal organ may be biochemically differentiated but morphologically immature. The results may imply that the efferents to inner and outer hair cells develop earlier than indicated by previous ultrastructral studies. Moreover, the pattern of development suggests that in the cochlea, as in other tissues, the biochemical differentiation of the efferent innervation may precede the morphological maturation.

Increased cytochrome oxidase activity in the diabetic rat retinal pigment epithelium

We have investigated the effects of diabetes on retinal oxidative metabolism. Since activity of the mitochondrial enzyme, cytochrome oxidase, has been demonstrated to be a reliable indicator of oxidative metabolism and physiological activity, we used cytochemical techniques to study the activity of this enzyme in spontaneously diabetic, streptozotocin-diabetic, and control rat retinas. Light microscope results showed an increase in staining for cytochrome oxidase activity in the diabetic RPE cell layer as compared with the control. Quantitative electron microscope analysis showed a significant increase in RPE cells with highly reactive mitochondria as compared with the controls. Mitochondrial staining within the diabetic photoreceptor and retinal vascular endothelial cells was normal. RPE cell volume and surface area, as well as number and volume of mitochondria, were unchanged. This increase in oxidative enzyme activity is further evidence of RPE cell alteration in diabetes.

Quantitative freeze-fracture and filipin-binding study of retinal pigment epithelial-cell basal membranes in diabetic rats

Breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier in diabetes may be related to alterations in the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell layer. Morphological studies suggest increased permeability of diabetic RPE plasma membranes, and proliferation and flattening of the RPE basal infoldings have been observed in diabetic animals. In order to determine whether these phenomena are associated with changes in membrane protein or sterol composition, we have used quantitative electron-microscope freeze-fracture and filipin-binding techniques to study the RPE basal membrane in streptozotocin diabetic and 3-O-methyl glucose control rats. Perfusion-fixed retinas were processed for freeze-fracture and filipin-binding analysis. Filipin, a polyene antibiotic, binds specifically to 3-beta-hydroxy-sterols to produce membrane deformations recognizable by freeze-fracture. These analyses revealed an 11% increase in the density of intramembrane particles within the cytoplasmic (P-face) leaflet in diabetic rats as compared with the controls (P less than 0.01, t test). The increase occurred primarily in 6-9-nm particles, while smaller particles were decreased (P less than 0.001, chi-square test). Filipin binding was the same in both groups. These results suggest that alterations in intrinsic membrane proteins may contribute to permeability and surface area changes in the diabetic RPE but that RPE membrane sterols are not affected by diabetes.

Decreased anionic sites in Bruch's membrane of spontaneous and drug-induced diabetes

The basal laminae of capillaries, glomeruli, and nerves are thickened in diabetes. Previous studies have shown that diabetic tissues produce increased levels of basal lamina collagen and reduced levels of proteoglycans. Since heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans are thought to act as anionic barriers regulating passage of proteins across Bruch's membrane of the eye, the cationic electron microscope tracers, polyethyleneimine (PEI) and ruthenium red, were used to study the distribution of anionic sites in Bruch's membrane of spontaneously diabetic Bio-Breeding/Worcester (BB-W) rats and streptozotocin-diabetic rats. The distribution of the two tracers is similar. In Bruch's membrane of control rats, electron dense particles are present at regular intervals along both sides of the basal laminae of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and of the choriocapillary endothelium (CE), and along collagen fibers in the zone between the two basal laminae. Within 3-6 months after the onset of hyperglycemia in both diabetic rat models, quantitative analysis shows a significant reduction in binding sites along both RPE and CE basal laminae, while thickness of both basal laminae is significantly increased. Because reductions in anionic binding sites along basal laminae in the renal glomerulus have been found to accompany changes in glomerular filtration, these changes suggest that filtration through Bruch's membrane is altered in diabetes.

Lanthanum and freeze-fracture studies of retinal pigment epithelial cell junctions in the streptozotocin diabetic rat

The blood-retinal barrier breaks down early in diabetes and previous morphological studies suggest that the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is the site of this defect. In the present study the electron microscope lanthanum nitrate tracer technique has been used to study RPE cell permeability in the streptozotocin diabetic rat retina. The freeze-fracture technique has been used to study RPE cell tight junction structure as permeability increases. In the lanthanum experiments, RPE cell permeability is normal in control rats and in diabetic rats 3 weeks after the injections. After 8 or 16 weeks of diabetes, however, the RPE cell layer no longer forms a barrier to the tracer and electron dense material is present in the subretinal space, in the apical and basal regions of the RPE cell junctions and intracellularly within the RPE. Freeze-fracture studies of tight junctions during this period show (1) an increase in the complexity of the tight junction network due to an increase in anastomoses between the tight junctions; (2) a change in membrane fracturing properties such that the tight junctional intra-membrane particles adhering to the E-face grooves are more numerous than in the control junctions; (3) no change in the number or size of the tight and gap junctional elements. These results suggest that the blood-retinal barrier breakdown in the diabetic RPE is due to alteration of plasma membrane permeability rather than to a loss of tight junctions.

Ribbon synapses in the developing intact and cultured organ of Corti in the mouse

Over 100 synaptic ribbons were studied in the intact animal from birth to the 23rd day and over 500 were studied in the isolated organ up to 24 days in culture. Our findings suggest that synaptogenesis in the cochlea of the mouse occurs mainly postnatally and lasts at least 14 days. Afferent synapses of young cochleas are characterized by round ribbons which are attached to the presynaptic membrane by two rodlets, each surrounded by a discrete triangular density. The postsynaptic density is continuous and coextends with the presynaptic complex. The single layer of vesicles surrounding the dense body of the ribbon is disrupted by the presynaptic densities. In an afferent synapse of the adolescent animal, the predominant organelle is a plate ribbon--often laminated--which measures on the average approximately 1000 A wide, 2000 A tall, and 1500 A long (one section = 700 A). The ribbon is attached to a presynaptic density, arcuate in form; a row of synaptic vesicles is aligned along each side of the arcuate density. The presynaptic membrane forms a trough accommodating the ribbon. The postsynaptic density exceeds the territory of the ribbon. Similar development of the synapse also may be observed in culture. Structural variability of ribbons (seen especially in culture), clustering of ribbons, multiribbon synapses, and ribbon families seem to be characteristic of early development. The occurrence of ring-like or fenestrated ribbons in the intact adolescent animal suggests a limited life span of the organelle. A decrease in the ribbon population of the outer hair cells, to about 20% of the total number, occurs postnatally in the intact animal. A similar decrease occurs also in culture. This implies that the ribbon population is not affected by the efferent influx. The mature cochlear ribbon appears comparable to those of the retina and some ampullary organs of electric fishes.