Marginal cells of the stria vascularis in vitro]

Explants of stria vascularis and spiral ligament of the guinea pig cochlea were cultivated and after 2 days fibroblast-like cells were found growing around the explant. Marginal cells advanced at 15 microns/day to the border of the explant, and after 2 weeks they proliferated on top of a thin layer of fibroblast-like cells outside the explant, replacing several layers of fibroblast-like cells. Tight junctions and interdigitations of the lateral membranes were found between all neighbouring marginal cells. Their apical surface was covered by microvillus-like membrane extensions. The basal membrane of the new marginal cells did not interdigitate with the underlying membranes of fibroblast-like cells; there was always a gap between the two cell types. The results demonstrate that marginal cells of the stria vascularis are capable of repairing damage to the epithelium, such as may be caused by endolymphatic hydrops, even if the luminal side contains perilymph-like fluid. Furthermore, the cell culture allows living, clearly identified marginal cells to be studied in vivo.     

Ultrastructure of cultured marginal cells of the guinea pig cochlea.

Explants of stria vascularis and spiral ligament of guinea pig cochlea were kept in primary culture. On the explant, proliferating marginal cells advanced by 15 microns/day, suggesting that in vivo defects of the strial epithelium can be covered by new marginal cells. The marginal cells growing in the cell culture dish had a diameter of 12.8 +/- 0.7 microns and formed an epithelial monolayer. Adjacent cells were connected by desmosomes and tight junctions. The cells were uniformly polarized. The apical membrane had small invaginations and numerous microvillus-like extensions, and the convoluted lateral membrane interdigitated with adjacent cells. The basal infoldings were smaller in cultured cells than in vivo; mitochondria were dispersed in the entire cytoplasm rather than concentrated in basolateral infoldings. The basal membrane infoldings of cultured marginal cells did not interdigitate with underlying fibroblast-like cells. Marginal cells were separated from underlying fibroblast-like cells by a fluid-filled space which was sometimes enlarged, leading to the formation of "domes" in the otherwise planar epithelium.     

Characterization of marginal and Claudius' cells growing from cochlear explants in vitro.

Tissue specimens of stria vascularis together with spiral ligament were transferred from the guinea pig cochlea to tissue culture dishes. To characterize and identify cells growing out from the explants, indirect immunofluorescence microscopy was used. The expression of the intermediate-sized filaments vimentin and cytokeratin 18 in cells on the surface of tissue specimens and in cells growing out from the explants after different cultivation periods were compared. Basically, three types of cells grew from the explants during several days: marginal cells, Claudius' cells and fibroblast-like cells. In primary cultures of explants, growth of marginal cells was observed in 25% of the dishes. Their proliferative activity, estimated by the use of the BrdUrd-DNA antibody, started in the stria vascularis and continued across the attachment of Reissner's membrane down to the bottom of the cell culture dish. The newly-formed marginal cells expressed cytokeratin 18 in the same way that original marginal cells on the tissue specimen do. If the newly-formed marginal cells were in contact with fibroblast-like cells or were forming groups (domes) on the bottom, they expressed vimentin. In 3% of the dishes growth of Claudius' cells was observed. Proliferative activity of these cells was found at the point where the basilar membrane was attached to the spiral ligament. New Claudius' cells spread at the opposite side of an explant when compared with the location of new marginal cells. Original as well as newly-formed Claudius' cells contained cytokeratin 18. Fibroblast-like cells were commonly present in cultures and contained only vimentin.     

耳蜗血管纹组织块的缘细胞培养

目的 :建立豚鼠耳蜗血管纹 (SV)组织块缘细胞 (MCs)的培养方法 ,为进一步研究药物耳毒性及其作用机制奠定基础。方法 :2 6只豚鼠按SV培养时间随机分成 4组 :2 4h组 (n =8) ;72h组 (n =8) ;>72h组 (n =8) ;对照组 (新鲜SV固定组 ,n =2 )。显微解剖数段连同螺旋韧带的SV组织块 ,置于 5 %CO2 / 95 %空气的二氧化碳恒温 (37℃ )培养箱中进行培养 ,分别进行形态学和组织学观察。结果 :培养 2 4hSV组织块保持良好活性 ,其组织学结构与新鲜固定的SV结构无明显差异 ;培养 72hSV组织块与新鲜固定的SV在组织学结构方面有显著性差异 ,不能观察到正常的SV结构 ,组织结构松散 ,缘细胞从组织块离心性生长出来 ;从SV组织块培养出的缘细胞能在培养皿内存活 13d。结论 :采用组织块培养技术 ,成功地建立了豚鼠耳蜗SV组织块的缘细胞培养方法 ;培养 2 4h的SV组织块光镜下保持了良好活性和正常组织学结构 ,可用来进一步研究药物耳毒性及其作用机制。     

新生小鼠膜迷路耳蜗外侧壁的组织培养

目的培养小鼠耳蜗螺旋韧带/血管纹来源的细胞,为体外研究提供细胞模型。方法显微解剖新生小鼠耳蜗螺旋韧带/血管纹组织,组织块外植培养,胰蛋白酶消化分离细胞,免疫组织化学染色,原位透射电镜观察鉴别细胞的来源。结果自外植耳蜗螺旋韧带/血管纹组织生长出上皮样细胞及成纤维样细胞。前者呈典型的上皮细胞形态,表达细胞角蛋白,并具血管纹边缘细胞的超微结构特征。后者呈成纤维细胞形态,表达波形蛋白,具有耳蜗螺旋韧带成纤维细胞的超微结构特征。结论培养出小鼠耳蜗血管纹边缘细胞及螺旋韧带成纤维细胞来源的原代上皮细胞及传代成纤维细胞,为体外研究提供了细胞模型及方法。     

Ultrastructural study of the effect of acute hypertension on the stria vascularis and spiral ligament

The effect of acute hypertension, induced in rats by intravenous injection of methoxamine chloride (Mexan), on the stria vascularis and spiral ligament was studied electronmicroscopically with the tracer method of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Considerable extravasation of HRP occurred in the stria vascularis, due to the increased vesicular transport. The leaked HRP spread into intercellular spaces, but was prevented from spreading towards the endolymph by zonulae occludentes between marginal cells and towards the perilymph by zonulae occludentes between basal cells. The reaction product was occasionally found between basal cells. No leakage of HRP from capillaries was observed in the spiral ligament, although some labelled micropinocytotic vesicles were present in the endothelium. It is suggested that, under acute hypertensive conditions, areas of zonulae occludentes bordering the stria vascularis play an important role as a barrier to HRP, whereas capillaries in the spiral ligament themselves act as a barrier to it.     

Na-K-2Cl联合转运子1在小鼠耳蜗侧壁组织中的表达及意义

目的观察Na-K-2Cl联合转运子1(NKCC1)在小鼠耳蜗组织中的表达及分布,并探讨其与耳蜗听觉功能的关系。方法选用健康正常CBA/CaJ小鼠为实验组,NKCC1-/-(突变纯合子,全基因敲除)小鼠为对照组,利用听性脑干反应检测两组动物的听觉功能,取各组小鼠的耳蜗行冰冻切片,同时采用免疫组织化学技术和免疫荧光组织化学法检测Na-K-2Cl联合转运子1在实验组与对照组小鼠的耳蜗中的表达和分布。结果实验组小鼠的ABR反应阈值为18±3.50dBSPL、对照组小鼠在100dBSPL刺激时无反应。NKCC1阳性反应呈棕黄色,主要分布于实验组小鼠耳蜗血管纹边缘细胞和螺旋韧带下部,在耳蜗血管纹边缘细胞和螺旋韧带下部的纤维细胞、纹上区也有适度表达,而在对照组未见阳性表达。图像分析显示,两组灰度值差异有显著统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论在正常小鼠耳蜗,Na-K-2Cl联合转运子1主要在血管纹边缘细胞及螺旋韧带下部分布表达,并与耳蜗听觉生理功能密切相关。     

Dynamics of Na,K-ATPase sites in lateral cochlear wall tissues of the rat

Summary The objective of this study was to determine whether varying levels of either the synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, or the mineralocorticoid, aldosterone, modulate the quantity of Na,K-ATPase sites in stria vascularis and spiral ligament tissues. Surgically adrenalectomized male rats were administered different dosages of dexamethasone or aldosterone for 7 days and subsequently were sacrificed. Na,K-ATPase -subunits of stria vascularis and spiral ligament homogenates were determined quantitatively by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, using a monoclonal antibody shown to react with lateral wall Na,K-ATPase -subunit. Elevated serum levels of dexamethasone were correlated with significantly increased Na,K-ATPase -subunit levels in both the stria vascularis and spiral ligament (P 0.05). Elevated serum levels of aldosterone were correlated with increased Na,K-ATPase -subunits in the stria vascularis, but not in the spiral ligament (P 0.1). These data further indicate a positive correlation between increased serum levels of adrenal steroids and induction of Na,K-ATPase synthesis by such steroids; particularly by dexamethasone.Presented at the 16th Midwinter Research Meeting of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, St. Petersburg Beach, Florida, USA, February 1993     

Migration of cochlear lateral wall cells

The role of apoptosis and proliferation in maintenance of cochlear lateral wall cells was examined. The methods employed for detection of apoptosis were the Hoechst fluorescence stain and TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end-labeling) assay, and proliferations were 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and presence of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen. The incidence of apoptosis in the strial marginal cell was 50% greater (32.9+/-3.7%) than strial intermediate and basal cells but similar to spiral ligament cells. Although division of marginal strial cells was rarely detected, a significant number of proliferating cells in the remaining stria vascularis and spiral ligament were observed. These data implied that replacement of marginal cells arose elsewhere and could be followed by a BrdU-deoxythymidine pulse-chase study. At 2 h post injection, nuclear BrdU in marginal cells was not detected; however, by 24 h post injection, 20-25% of marginal cell nuclei were BrdU-positive. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that marginal cells were replaced by underlying cells. Cell migration appears to be an important mechanism for preserving the function and structure of the stria vascularis.     

Spiral ligament and stria vascularis changes in cochlear otosclerosis: effect on hearing level.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of changes within the spiral ligament and stria vascularis on hearing in cochlear otosclerosis, we examined spiral ligament hyalinization, stria vascularis atrophy, and sensory hearing loss in cochlear otosclerosis and described changes in ion transport molecule expression. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Thirty-two cochleae from 24 temporal bone donors with histologic evidence of cochlear otosclerosis, including spiral ligament hyalinization. INTERVENTION: Audiography. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Measurements of spiral ligament width, stria vascularis, and bone-conduction thresholds were compared by the amount of hyalinization. Expression of the ion transport molecules Na,K-ATPase, connexin 26, and carbonic anhydrase II were assessed by immunohistochemical techniques. RESULTS: Hyalinization most often involved the posterior basal turn (88%) and the posterior middle turn (27%). Spiral ligament hyalinization correlated significantly with stria vascularis atrophy in the posterior middle turn of the cochlea (rho = -0.63, p < 0.01). There was a trend toward a significant association in the posterior basal turn (rho = -0.31, p < 0.08). Bone-conduction thresholds at 2,000 and 4,000 Hz were significantly associated with the amount of stria vascularis atrophy (rho = -0.44, -0.40, p < 0.05). In addition, we observed decreased immunostaining for both carbonic anhydrase II with Type I fibrocytes and Na,K-ATPase with stria vascularis and Type II and Type IV fibrocytes of the spiral ligament in cochlear otosclerosis sections compared with normal cochlea. Na,K-ATPase staining within the stria vascularis was further decreased in the presence of spiral ligament hyalinization. No significant differences were seen with connexin 26 immunostaining. However, immunostaining results were somewhat inconsistent. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that spiral ligament structure and function are essential for stria vascularis survival. In addition, dampened expression of ion transport molecules within the spiral ligament and stria vascularis may disrupt potassium ion recycling, resulting in loss of endocochlear potential and sensory hearing loss.     

The effect of noise on deoxyglucose uptake into inner ear tissues of the mouse

Summary The uptake of deoxyglucose into inner ear tissues was studied in the mouse. Sixty minutes after a single i.v. injection of 5 mCi 2-deoxy-D-[³H]glucose/kg body weight, stria vascularis/spiral ligament and organ of Corti as well as other body tissues were dissected and analyzed for radioactivity. Uptake into inner ear tissues was three to five times lower than into brain or heart. The ratio of deoxyglucose-6-phosphate to deoxyglucose was 6040 and the compounds were eliminated from the inner ear with a half life of approximately 60 min. Exposure to 100 dB of white noise during the radioactive pulse decreased uptake of deoxyglucose into both stria vascularis/spiral ligament and organ of Corti by 50%.This work was supported by grant NS 12881 from the National Institutes of Health and Program Project grant NS 05785 and training grant NS 07106     

Ultrastructural study of cytochemical localization of carbonic anhydrase in the inner ear

Vibratome sections were stained for cytochemical localization of carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity in vestibular neuro-epithelium, spiral ligament and spiral limbus. The new finding is the localization of reaction products in the interdental cells of the spiral limbus, Claudius' cells, mesothelial cells of the lower border of spiral ligament, vestibular sensory cells and perilymphatic cells, which have not earlier been proved to have CA activity. The interdental cells showed the products only on the basolateral infoldings. Claudius' cells showed prominent products in the microvilli. In the vestibular sensory cells, the products were present only in the stereocilia and cuticular areas. The perilymphatic fibrocytes under the vestibular sensory epithelium, like the fibrocytes of the spiral ligament, revealed diffuse products throughout the whole cell. In the vestibular supporting cells and transitional cells, the reaction products were localized diffusely in the cytosol, but not in the secretory granules. In the long cell projections of the transitional cells, type II fibrocytes at spiral prominence, mesothelial cells at the uppermost region of the spiral ligament and Borghesan's zone, the localization of the reaction products was the same as that of the basolateral infoldings of the vestibular dark cells and marginal cells of stria vascularis shown previously.     

胎儿耳蜗血管纹的扫描电镜观察

目的：借助扫描电镜技术观察血管纹的表面结构,以便对血管纹的结构和功能提供新的信息。方法：标本取自尸检3个足月胎儿的6个颢骨,在死后尽可能快速取出耳蜗,经处理后,借助扫描电镜技术观察人胎儿耳蜗血管纹的超微结构。结果：借助扫描电镜技术可从耳蜗基底圈到顶圈,上起前庭膜嵴,下到基底膜的基底嵴全面观察血管纹的各个部分,血管纹边缘细胞表面结构呈圆球形．细胞表面有许多微绒毛。螺旋凸部位有一个细胞移行区,这个区域的边缘细胞表面形态明显不同,细胞细K或呈不规则的多角形细胞,细胞边界微绒毛丰富,显出明显的细胞界限,细胞表面分布均匀的微绒毛。血管纹断面的观察还可获得中间细胞、基底细胞和毛细血管结构。结论：扫描电镜观察胎儿耳蜗血管纹,可获得整个血管纹全貌的表面精细结构,尤其是边缘细胞的表面形态,通过对血管纹断面的观察还可获得中间细胞、基底细胞的精细结构特征,为认识血管纹的结构和功能提供新的信息。     

Immunohistochemical localization of alpha-atrial natriuretic polypeptide in the rat cochlea.

The localization of alpha-atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha-ANP) in the rat cochlea was studied by immunohistochemical technique, using a polyclonal antibody against synthetic rat alpha-atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha-rANP). The spiral ligament of the lateral cochlear wall exhibited pronounced immunoreactivity to atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP), whereas the stria vascularis displayed almost no immunoreaction. ANP immunoreactivity (IR) was also intense in the spiral limbus region. IR was observed in the fibroblast-like cells and in the extracellular matrix, in particular along its fibrous bundles, of both the spiral ligament and the spiral limbus. These results indicate that ANP may participate in the regulation of the water electrolyte balance at these sites, which may imply a role for ANP in the regulation of cochlear fluids.     

Distribution and significance of endothelin 1 in guinea pig cochlear lateral wall

Endothelin 1 is a vasoconstrictive peptide with many biological functions. To investigate the distribution of endothelin 1 in guinea pig cochlear lateral wall and the significance of endothelin 1 in maintaining cochlear homeostasis, the immunohistochemistry avidin biotin complex method was applied by using rabbit anti-endothelin 1 polyclonal antibody as primary antibody. Endothelin-1-like activities were detected in the marginal cells, spiral prominence epithelial cells, outer sulcus cells, stria vascularis capillaries, basal cells and spiral ligament fibrocytes. These results suggest that endothelin 1 may play an important role in maintaining cochlear homeostasis.     

鼠尾胶原在原代培养耳蜗血管纹边缘细胞中的应用

目的：建立利用自制的鼠尾胶原培养大鼠耳蜗边缘细胞的方法。方法：制作鼠尾胶原,并观察利用自制的鼠尾胶原所培养出大鼠耳蜗边缘细胞的效果。结果：自制的鼠尾胶原能正常地培养出大鼠耳蜗边缘细胞,细胞角蛋白18表达阳性,免疫组织化学结果和扫描电镜证实所培养的细胞具有典型的分泌上皮细胞特征。结论：成功建立了利用自制鼠尾胶原培养大鼠耳蜗边缘细胞的方法,并且制作简便,成本低廉。     

Localization of glucocorticoid receptors and glucocorticoid receptor mRNAs in the rat cochlea

The distribution of glucocorticoid (GR) receptor messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and GR receptors was studied by in situ hybridization histochemistry and immunocytochemistry, respectively. In situ hybridization histochemistry was performed with a biotin-labeled riboprobe complementary to rat GR receptor mRNA. GR receptor mRNAs were demonstrated in spiral ligament cells, spiral limbus cells, and spiral ganglion cells. GR receptor mRNAs were demonstrated neither in cells of the stria vascularis nor in cells of the organ of Corti region. With the use of a monoclonal and a polyclonal antibody, GR receptors were observed in the spiral ligament cells, stria vascularis cells, spiral limbus cells, and spiral ganglion cells by immunocytochemistry. Binding of anti-GR-receptor antibodies to a lesser extent was observed in the organ of Corti region; however, cellular distribution of the GR receptors could not be resolved with the applied techniques. These results suggest that the GR receptor is expressed differently in the heterogeneous cochlear tissues.     

Changes in the capillaries of the stria vascularis after hemorrhagic shock

As a result of severe hemorrhagic shock in guinea pigs, the blood flow in the capillaries of the stria vascularis was blocked, but that of the spiral ligament was unaffected. It is therefore postulated that the thick layer of basal cells and fibrocytes around the stria vascularis and the capillaries leaving the stria vascularis plays an important role in the formation of blood sludging.     

Effect of a beta-stimulant on the inner ear stria vascularis

In vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of alpha-isoproterenol on the inner ear stria vascularis with intracellular cytochrome oxidase activity used as an index. Intraperitoneal injection of alpha-isoproterenol (5 mg/kg) was performed in 10 rats, and that of physiological saline in 4 rats, for 21 consecutive days. After the 3-week treatment, bilateral cochleas were excised for frozen sections and stained for cytochrome oxidase. The staining density of the stria vascularis for the enzyme was analyzed with a computer. Electron microscopic observation was also performed for some specimens. As for the in vitro experiments, bilateral cochleas from 6 normal rats were excised for cell culture. Cochlear cells from the right ear were cultured with medium containing alpha-isoproterenol (10-micromol/L concentration), and those from the left ear with medium alone. After 3-day culture, the enzyme activity of cytochrome oxidase in the stria vascularis was quantified by the same method used for the in vivo experiments. Cytochrome oxidase activity was markedly elevated in the alpha-isoproterenol group. The activity tended to be higher in the lower turns of the cochlea. Electron microscopy revealed that numerous mitochondria were present in marginal cells that protruded into the endolymphatic space. The enzyme activity was also elevated in the stria vascularis from cochlear specimens in the alpha-isoproterenol group of the in vitro experiment. The above results suggest that alpha-isoproterenol accelerated the metabolic activity of the cells that constitute the stria vascularis. The increase in activity was probably attributable to direct pharmaceutical effects of the beta-stimulant, rather than an increase in blood flow. It is possible that the cells that constitute the stria vascularis may have beta-receptors.     

Quantitative evaluation of pinocytosis of capillaries of the stria vascularis under normal and experimental conditions

In order to examine evidence of high activity of pinocytosis in capillaries of the stria vascularis, quantitative morphometry of pinocytotic vesicles was carried out ultrastructur-ally by the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) tracer method. In guinea pigs, there was a significant difference between the stria vascularis and spiral ligament in the number of vesicles per urn(2) (p<0.05) and labelled vesicles per urn(2) (p<0.001). In normotensive control rats, the number of labelled vesicles per u,m(2) in capillaries of the stria vascularis was significantly greater (p<0.001) than that of the spiral ligament. Results of acute hypertensive and acute hypotensive experiments both indicated that enhanced permeable capillaries of the stria vascularis showed no significant increase in the number of pinocytotic vesicles per urn(2), but that they showed a more significant increase in the number of labelled vesicles per um(2) than non-enhanced permeable capillaries of the stria vascularis (p<0.01) and capillaries of the spiral ligament (p<0.001). These findings provide ultrastruc-tural confirmation of our previous studies (4, 8, 9) that pinocytosis contributes to the high permeability of capillaries of the stria vascularis under normal and experimental acute hypertensive and acute hypotensive conditions.