缝隙连接阻断剂1-庚醇对豚鼠听觉的作用

目的：探讨缝隙连接在维持正常的听功能方面可能发挥的作用。方法：通过向豚鼠外淋巴中注入缝隙连接阻断剂1-庚醇（1-heptanol），然后检测给药前后豚鼠听性脑干诱发反应（ABR）阈值和潜伏期的改变，并借助透射电镜观察药物对豚鼠耳蜗中的缝隙连接结构的影响。结果：注射1-heptanol后，豚鼠ABR阈值显著提高，潜伏期延长（P〈0．01），并随时间推移呈动态升高趋势。同时，通过电镜可以观察到在豚鼠耳蜗中存在着大量的缝隙连接结构，其主要分布在毛细胞和其下的支持细胞间。1-heptanol可以使缝隙连接结构破坏，毛细胞水肿、变性。结论：缝隙连接阻断剂1-heptanol能明显影响豚鼠的听功能，缝隙连接结构在听觉形成过程中起着重要的作用。

The effect of gap blocker 1-heptanol on function and morphology of guinea pig cochlea

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of gap junctions in hearing function of guinea pig in vivo. METHOD: Seven guinea pigs were inoculated with 1-heptanol into perilympathic space after a small hole was drilled in the bony wall near tympanic scala of the base turn. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) was recorded before, 30 min, 60 min, 90 min 120 min after operation. Two hours after surgery, all the animals were killed and the ultrastructure of guinea cochlea was observed by making electron microscopy specimens. RESULT: The application of 1-heptanol into guinea pig cochlea resulted in large increase in ABR threshold, which showed 30 to 40 dB elevation in guinea pig. And 1-heptanol could destroy the gap conjunction structure between hair cells and Deiter's cells in guinea cochlea. CONCLUSION: The gap blocker 1-heptanol might significantly influence the guinea pig's hearing function, and the gap conjunction might play an important role in normal cochlear function and K+ recycle in inner ear of guinea pig.