Usami S, Ottersen O P
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Japan.
Brain Res. 1995 Apr 10;676(2):277-84. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(95)00098-b.
The cellular and subcellular localization of taurine in the organ of Corti was examined by means of postembedding immunocytochemistry. Supporting cells, including border cells, inner phalangeal cells, Deiters cells, pillar cells, and Böttcher cells are enriched in taurine-like immunoreactivity, contrasting sharply with inner and outer hair cells which did not show noteworthy immunolabelling. Immunogold cytochemistry indicated an even distribution of taurine throughout the cytoplasm and karyoplasm of the labelled supporting cells. Rats and guinea pigs showed similar labelling patterns. The present immunocytochemical findings indicate that supporting cells are the plausible sources of the reported potassium-induced taurine release in the cochlea. The distribution of taurine in the organ of Corti is not compatible with a transmitter or neuromodulatory action of this amino acid, but rather suggests an involvement in osmoregulatory functions.
通过包埋后免疫细胞化学方法研究了耳蜗中牛磺酸的细胞和亚细胞定位。包括边缘细胞、内指细胞、Dieters细胞、柱细胞和Böttcher细胞在内的支持细胞富含牛磺酸样免疫反应性，这与未显示出明显免疫标记的内毛细胞和外毛细胞形成鲜明对比。免疫金细胞化学表明，牛磺酸在标记的支持细胞的整个细胞质和核质中均匀分布。大鼠和豚鼠表现出相似的标记模式。目前的免疫细胞化学研究结果表明，支持细胞是耳蜗中报道的钾诱导牛磺酸释放的可能来源。牛磺酸在耳蜗中的分布与该氨基酸的递质或神经调节作用不相符，而是表明其参与了渗透调节功能。
