人胎儿前庭器超微结构的观察

对人胎儿前庭器超微结构的研究,国内外报道甚少。本文对18至36周人胎儿颞骨10具进行了扫描电镜和透射电镜的观察,并对应用Surface preparation法制做人胎儿前庭器标本的方法进行了探讨。本文观察所见:豚鼠平衡斑的生理状态与人胎儿很近似,体面积比人胎儿平衡斑小,感觉毛长,细胞排列更整齐。28周以后的胎儿因前庭周围骨质变硬,制做标本时可以分别取出两囊斑和壶腹嵴。     

牛蛙球囊毛细胞电压依赖性钾通道电流的研究

目的 :研究牛蛙球囊毛细胞膜上钾通道的类型。方法 :全细胞膜片钳技术。结果 :1当钳制电位为 - 1 0 0 m V,以 1 0 m V的步距阶跃 ,阶跃从 - 70 m V至 + 2 0 m V,随着膜电位的去极化 ,可记录到一系列快速、瞬时的外向电流 ,4- Ap对其有特异性阻断作用。激活电压为 - 53.85± 7.8m V。2 A型钾通道的数量在牛蛙毛细胞间存在差异。 3当钳制电位为 - 70 m V,以 1 0 m V的步距阶跃去极化 ( - 50 m V～ + 4 0 m V) ,可产生一延迟整流性钾离子流 ,四乙基氯化氨 ( TEA)能使该电流幅度下降 59%± 1 1 %。结论 :牛蛙毛细胞膜上含有 A型钾通道和延迟整流性钾通道。     

听神经病伴发前庭下神经损害

目的 通过检测13例听神经病患者的前庭诱发的肌源性电位(vestibular evokedmyogenic potentials,VEMPs),了解听神经病患者是否同时伴发前庭下神经损害,探讨前庭下神经损害与听神经病的关系。方法 记录13例听神经病患者VEMPs,观察VEMPs表现形式;分析病程、低频听阈及言语识别率与VEMPs的关系。结果 13例听神经病患者中有7例存在VEMPs异常,占54％。异常的表现形式为VEMPs低振幅和VEMPs不能引出。正常VEMPs与异常VEMPs在低频听力损失、病程和言语识别率3个方面差异无显著性(P>0.05)。结论 部分听神经病患者伴发前庭下神经功能异常,说明两者病变可以同时并存;听神经病患者的病变程度方面与VEMPs无明显直接相关性,说明听神经病与前庭下神经损害两者之间又具有相对独立性。     

Observation of the morphology and calcium content of vestibular otoconia in rats after simulated weightlessness

Conclusions

Reduction in bone formation may have been the main reason for the lower calcium content of the otoconia after simulated weightlessness in rats. The head-ward distribution of blood volume may explain the morphological changes observed in the middle and inner ears.

Objective

To observe morphological changes in the vestibular organs and measure the calcium content of otoconia in rats after simulated weightlessness.

Material and methods

We used a tail suspension model of simulated weightlessness and then investigated changes in the vestibular organs using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis.

Results

In comparison to untreated rats, the vestibular otoconia of the rats subjected to simulated weightlessness were small, irregularly shaped or fissured, and were arranged loosely and out of order. In addition, the calcium content of the otoconia was markedly decreased.     

Assessing cochlear evoked potentials after electrocautery-induced trauma to the utricle

Utriculostomy is a new surgical alternative for Ménière's disease. The basis of this procedure is that the outcome of an electrocautery-induced utricular trauma does not affect cochlear function. However, a demonstration of the hypothesis that this approach to the utricle would preserve hearing is still pending.ObjectiveTo determine whether any changes would occur in the electrical potentials evoked in the cochlea and auditory nerve before, during, and 1 month after a surgical procedure in the utricule in an animal model.Materials and MethodsAn experimental study. Eight sheep underwent electrocautery-induced utricular trauma, and their cochlear function was assessed by electrocochleography – recording of electrical evoked potentials, in the preoperative, immediate postoperative and medium-term postoperative periods. The results were analyzed statistically.ResultsThere were no statistically significant variations in amplitude (p = 0.099) and latency (p = 0.591) before and 1 month after the surgical procedure. There was a statistically significant change in the summation of the potential/action potential area ratio (p = 0.0122), a calculated loss of 11.8 dB.ConclusionThe intervention performed in this study enabled us to conclude that, taking into account the impaired electrophysiological responses observed during and 1 month after the surgical procedure, hearing was preserved in the operated sheep.     

Permeation of Fluorophore-Conjugated Phalloidin into Live Hair Cells of the Inner Ear Is Modulated by P2Y Receptors

Phalloidin, a toxin isolated from the death cap mushroom, Amanita phalloides, binds to filamentous actin with high affinity, and this has made fluorophore-conjugated phalloidin a useful tool in cellular imaging. Hepatocytes take up phalloidin via the liver-specific organic anion transporting polypeptide 1b2, but phalloidin does not permeate most living cells. Rapid entry of styryl dyes into live hair cells has been used to evaluate function, but the usefulness of those fluorescence dyes is limited by broad and fixed absorption spectra. Since phalloidin can be conjugated to fluorophores with various spectra, we investigated whether it would permeate living hair cells. When we incubated mouse utricles in 66 nM phalloidin-CF488A and followed that by washes in phalloidin-free medium, we observed that it entered a subset of hair cells and labeled entire hair bundles fluorescently after 20 min. Incubations of 90 min labeled nearly all the hair bundles. When phalloidin-treated utricles were cultured for 24 h after washout, the label disappeared from the hair cells and progressively but heterogeneously labeled filamentous actin in the supporting cells. We investigated how phalloidin may enter hair cells and found that P2 receptor antagonists, pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2′, 4′-disulfonic acid and suramin, blocked phalloidin entry, while the P2Y receptor ligands, uridine-5’-diphosphate and uridine-5’-triphosphaste, stimulated uptake. Consistent with that, the P2Y6 receptor antagonist, MRS 2578, decreased phalloidin uptake. The results show that phalloidin permeates live hair cells through a pathway that requires metabotropic P2Y receptor signaling and suggest that phalloidin can be transferred from hair cells to supporting cells in culture.     

Testing utricular function by means of on-axis rotation

Conclusions. Subjective visual vertical (SVV) estimation during on-axis rotation provides an efficient screening test of utricle function. The survey demonstrates that isolated disorders of peripheral utricular function can occur while SCC function appears normal. Objective. The present study aimed to investigate estimation of SVV during constant velocity yaw rotation (with the head held on-axis – to enhance any asymmetry between right and left utricular responses), as a useful screening test. Materials and methods. In all, 230 patients were recruited from the dizziness clinic. For each patient, the SVV was estimated (a) while held stationary, and (b) during constant angular velocity (240°/s), with the head centred on-axis. Bithermal caloric testing was also performed in 201 of the patients. Results. Of those patients with normal SVV results during stationary testing, 18.3% were pathological during rotation testing. In those cases with pathological SVV during stationary testing, a significantly greater deviation from the norm was observed during rotation (p<0.001). Of those patients with normal caloric responses, 44.4% showed pathological SVV estimates; this increased to 54.3% for cases with unilateral weakness, and 56.5% for unilateral loss. No clear correlation was found between reports of tilt illusion and pathological SVV, respectively, between rotatory vertigo and pathological caloric responses.     

Atypical Fetal Prostate Development is Associated with Ipsilateral Hypoplasia of the Wolffian Ducts in the ACI Rat

For over a half century, the ACI (August × Copenhagen) rat has been a primary model for studying renal agenesis and ipsilateral hypoplasia (IHP) of the Wolffian‐derived structures (WDS). Because the ACI rat is also used as a model for prostate research, it is important to examine the relationship of IHP and urogenital sinus (UGS) development. The prostate is dependent on androgens for proper growth and differentiation. Alteration in androgen production and/or delivery to the UGS has the potential to perturbate normal development. In this study, we investigate whether the ipsilateral loss of the WDS is associated with altered prostate development. Digital images of serial‐sectioned fetal ACI rat UGS were used to create three‐dimensional (3‐D) surface‐rendered models of the developing prostate, seminal vesicle, vas deferens, and utricle on gestational day 21. The number and volume of prostate ducts developing from the UGS were calculated from the 3‐D model data. Animals exhibiting IHP had a significant decrease in total fetal prostate volume (40%; P < 0.005) with significant regional specific differences when compared with normal male ACI rats. Anatomical and histological differences in the utricle, abnormal histology of the ipsilateral testes, and a truncation of the ipsilateral Wolffian ductal mesenchyme were also seen in the animals with IHP. Additional research is needed to further understand the mechanisms and consequences of IHP on prostate growth and development. Alterations to normal prenatal development of the male accessory sex organs can have important consequences for the growth and morphology of the adult gland. Anat Rec, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

牛蛙球囊毛细胞钙离子通道

用细胞贴附式膜片钳技术在牛蛙内耳球囊的单离毛细胞侧膜记录到两种单通道钙电流。Ｌ型钙通道的电导为２６ｐＳ，在去极化电压下仍可激活，活化范围为－１０～＋４０ｍＶ，硝苯吡啶类药物对其有特异性激活或抑制作用。另一种钙通道的电导为２０ｐＳ，在－８０ｍＶ或－４０ｍＶ均可激活，活化范围为－５０～＋１０ｍＶ，硝苯吡啶类药物无作用。此通道的性质待定，疑系Ｎ型钙通道。