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The distribution of calcium buffering proteins in the turtle cochlea.

ABSTRACT: Hair cells of the inner ear contain high concentrations of calcium-binding proteins that limit calcium signals and prevent cross talk between different signaling pathways during auditory transduction. Using light microscope immunofluorescence and post-embedding immunogold labeling in the electron microscope, we characterized the distribution of three calcium-buffering proteins in the turtle cochlea. Both calbindin-D28k and parvalbumin-beta were confined to hair cells in which they showed a similar distribution, whereas calretinin was present mainly in hair-cell nuclei but also occurred in supporting cells and nerve fibers. The hair-cell concentration of calbindin-D28k but not of parvalbumin-beta increased from the low- to high-frequency end of the cochlea. Calibration against standards containing known amounts of calcium-buffering protein processed in the same fluid drop as the cochlear sections gave cytoplasmic concentrations of calbindin-D28k as 0.13-0.63 mm and parvalbumin-beta as approximately 0.25 mm, but calretinin was an order of magnitude less. Total amount of Ca 2+-binding sites on the proteins is at least 1.0 mm in low-frequency hair cells and 3.0 mm in high-frequency cells. Reverse transcription-PCR showed that mRNA for all three proteins was expressed in turtle hair cells. We suggest that calbindin-D28k and parvalbumin-beta may serve as endogenous mobile calcium buffers, but the predominantly nuclear location of calretinin argues for another role in calcium signaling. The results support conclusions from electrophysiological measurements that millimolar concentrations of endogenous calcium buffers are present in turtle hair cells. Parvalbumin-beta was also found in both inner and outer hair cells of the guinea pig cochlea.

SUBMITTER: Hackney CM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6740801 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The distribution of calcium buffering proteins in the turtle cochlea.

Hackney Carole M CM Mahendrasingam Shanthini S Jones Eugenia M C EM Fettiplace Robert R

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience 20030601 11

Hair cells of the inner ear contain high concentrations of calcium-binding proteins that limit calcium signals and prevent cross talk between different signaling pathways during auditory transduction. Using light microscope immunofluorescence and post-embedding immunogold labeling in the electron microscope, we characterized the distribution of three calcium-buffering proteins in the turtle cochlea. Both calbindin-D28k and parvalbumin-beta were confined to hair cells in which they showed a simil ...[more]

PMID: 12805298

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Project description:Background: The human cochlea was earlier believed to lack capacity to mount specific immune responses. Recent studies established that the human cochlea holds macrophages. The cells appear to surveil, dispose of, and restore wasted cells to maintain tissue integrity. Macrophage activities are believed to be the central elements in immune responses and could swiftly defuse invading microbes that enter via adjacent infection-prone areas. This review updates recent human studies in light of the current literature and adds information about chemokine gene expression. Materials and Methods: We analyzed surgically obtained human tissue using immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy, and multichannel super-resolution structured illumination microscopy. The samples were considered representative of steady-state conditions. Antibodies against the ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 were used to identify the macrophages. CD68 and CD11b, and the major histocompatibility complex type II (MHCII) and CD4 and CD8 were analyzed. The RNAscope technique was used for fractalkine gene localization. Results: Many macrophages were found around blood vessels in the stria vascularis but not CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes. Amoeboid macrophages were identified in the spiral ganglion with surveilling "antennae" projecting against targeted cells. Synapse-like contacts were seen on spiral ganglion cell bodies richly expressing single CXC3CL gene transcripts. Branching neurite-like processes extended along central and peripheral axons. Active macrophages were occasionally found near degenerating hair cells. Some macrophage-interacting T lymphocytes were observed between the scala tympani wall and Rosenthal's canal. CD4 and CD8 cells were not found in the organ of Corti. Conclusions: The results indicate that the human cochlea is equipped with macrophages and potentially lymphocytes, suggesting both an innate and adaptive immune capacity. A rich expression of fractalkine gene transcripts in spiral ganglion neurons suggest an essential role for auditory nerve protection, as has been demonstrated experimentally. The findings provide further information on the important role of the immune machinery present in the human inner ear and its potential to carry adverse immune reactions, including cytotoxic and foreign body responses. The results can be used to form a rationale for therapies aiming to modulate these immune activities.

Project description:BackgroundLeaf length and width could be a functioning relationship naturally as plant designs. Single-vein leaves have the simplest symmetrical distribution and structural design, which means that fast-growing single-vein species could interpret the scheme more efficiently. The distribution of leaf length and width can be modulated for better adaptation, providing an informative perspective on the various operational strategies in an emergency, while this mechanism is less clear. Here we selected six age groups of Cunninghamia lanceolata pure forests, including saplings, juveniles, mature, and old-growth trees. We pioneered a tapering model to describe half-leaf symmetric distribution with mathematical approximation based on every measured leaf along developmental sequence, and evaluated the ratio of leaf basal part length to total length (called tipping leaf length ratio).ResultsThe tipping leaf length ratio varied among different tree ages. That means the changes of tipping leaf length ratio and leaf shape are a significant but less-noticed reflection of trees tradeoff strategies at different growth stages. For instance, there exhibited relatively low ratio during sapling and juvenile, then increased with increasing age, showing the highest value in their maturity, and finally decreased on mature to old-growth transition. The tipping leaf length ratio serves as a cost-benefit ratio, thus the subtle changes in the leaf symmetrical distribution within individuals reveal buffering strategy, indicating the selection for efficient design of growth and hydraulic in their developmental sequences.ConclusionsOur model provides a physical explanation of varied signatures for tree operations in hydraulic buffering through growth stages, and the buffering strategy revealed from leaf distribution morphologically provides evidence on the regulation mechanism of leaf biomechanics, hydraulics and physiologies. Our insight contributes greatly to plant trait modeling, policy and management, and will be of interest to some scientists and policy makers who are involved in climate change, ecology and environment protection, as well as forest ecology and management.

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The distribution of calcium buffering proteins in the turtle cochlea.

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The distribution of calcium buffering proteins in the turtle cochlea.

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