Department of Otolaryngology Neck and Surgery, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China; Department of Otolaryngology, Yerkes National Primate Research Center,Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, GA, 30322-3030, USA.
Department of Otolaryngology, Yerkes National Primate Research Center,Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, GA, 30322-3030, USA.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2019 Oct 15;518(2):357-361. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.08.063. Epub 2019 Aug 14.
Connexin26 (Cx26) and Cx30 are the predominant connexin subtypes found in the cochlea. They play an essential role in the cochlear functions. However, most studies use mice and the data on the cochlear expression profiles of the two Cxs in higher animals (e.g., humans) are scarce. Studies using the cochleae from non-human primate other than mice may provide information needed to narrow this gap. Here we studied cellular distributions of Cx26 and Cx30 in the adult monkey and guinea pig cochleae by immunofluorescent labeling and confocal microscopy observations. We detected Cx26 and Cx30 expressions in the type I, II& V fibrocytes in the spiral ligament, fibrocytes of the spiral limbus, in the supporting cells of organ of Corti, inner and outer sulcus cells, and in the basal cells of the stria vascularis. Both Cx26 and Cx30 were not detected in hair cells, in mesenchymal cells under the basilar membrane and cells lining the scala vestibule. Cells of the Reissner's membrane and spiral ganglion neurons are also negative. These findings demonstrate that cochlear expressions of Cx26 and Cx30 in the adult mouse, guinea pig and non-human primate have a common cellular pattern.
缝隙连接蛋白 26（Cx26）和 30（Cx30）是耳蜗中主要的连接子亚型。它们在耳蜗功能中起着至关重要的作用。然而，大多数研究使用的是小鼠，而关于这两种连接子在高等动物（如人类）耳蜗中的表达谱的数据却很少。使用除小鼠以外的非人类灵长类动物的耳蜗进行研究可能会提供缩小这一差距所需的信息。在这里，我们通过免疫荧光标记和共聚焦显微镜观察研究了成年猴子和豚鼠耳蜗中 Cx26 和 Cx30 的细胞分布。我们在螺旋韧带的 I 型、II&V 纤维细胞、螺旋缘纤维细胞、Corti 器官的支持细胞、内、外嵴细胞以及血管纹的基底细胞中检测到了 Cx26 和 Cx30 的表达。毛细胞、基底膜下的间质细胞和前庭阶细胞 lining 中均未检测到 Cx26 和 Cx30。镫骨肌神经元和 Reissner 膜细胞也呈阴性。这些发现表明，Cx26 和 Cx30 在成年小鼠、豚鼠和非人类灵长类动物耳蜗中的表达具有共同的细胞模式。
