scholarly journals Single-unit labeling of medial olivocochlear neurons: the cochlear frequency map for efferent axons

2014 ◽  
Vol 111 (11) ◽  
pp. 2177-2186 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Christian Brown
Keyword(s):  
Hair Cells ◽  
Single Unit ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Organ Of Corti ◽  
Nerve Fibers ◽  
Outer Hair Cells ◽  
Cochlear Amplifier ◽  
Noise Masking ◽  
Efferent Neurons ◽  
Medial Olivocochlear

Medial olivocochlear (MOC) neurons are efferent neurons that project axons from the brain to the cochlea. Their action on outer hair cells reduces the gain of the “cochlear amplifier,” which shifts the dynamic range of hearing and reduces the effects of noise masking. The MOC effects in one ear can be elicited by sound in that ipsilateral ear or by sound in the contralateral ear. To study how MOC neurons project onto the cochlea to mediate these effects, single-unit labeling in guinea pigs was used to study the mapping of MOC neurons for neurons responsive to ipsilateral sound vs. those responsive to contralateral sound. MOC neurons were sharply tuned to sound frequency with a well-defined characteristic frequency (CF). However, their labeled termination spans in the organ of Corti ranged from narrow to broad, innervating between 14 and 69 outer hair cells per axon in a “patchy” pattern. For units responsive to ipsilateral sound, the midpoint of innervation was mapped according to CF in a relationship generally similar to, but with more variability than, that of auditory-nerve fibers. Thus, based on CF mappings, most of the MOC terminations miss outer hair cells involved in the cochlear amplifier for their CF, which are located more basally. Compared with ipsilaterally responsive neurons, contralaterally responsive neurons had an apical offset in termination and a larger span of innervation (an average of 10.41% cochlear distance), suggesting that when contralateral sound activates the MOC reflex, the actions are different than those for ipsilateral sound.

scholarly journals NTPDase1 and NTPDase2 Immunolocalization in Mouse Cochlea: Implications for Regulation of P2 Receptor Signaling

2002 ◽  
Vol 50 (11) ◽  
pp. 1435-1441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Srdjan M. Vlajkovic ◽  
Peter R. Thorne ◽  
Jean Sévigny ◽  
Simon C. Robson ◽  
Gary D. Housley
Keyword(s):  
Hair Cells ◽  
Spiral Ganglion ◽  
Organ Of Corti ◽  
Nerve Fibers ◽  
Outer Hair Cells ◽  
Spiral Ligament ◽  
Receptor Signaling ◽  
P2 Receptor ◽  
Efferent Nerve ◽  
Root Region

Cellular, molecular, and physiological studies have demonstrated an important signaling role for ATP and related nucleotides acting via P2 receptors in the cochlea of the inner ear. Signal modulation is facilitated by ectonucleotidases, a heterologous family of surface-located enzymes involved in extracellular nucleotide hydrolysis. Our previous studies have implicated CD39/NTPDase1 and CD39L1/NTPDase2, members of the ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (E-NTPDase) family, as major ATP-hydrolyzing enzymes in the tissues lining the cochlear endolymphatic and perilymphatic compartments. NTPDase1 hydrolyzes both nucleoside triphosphates and diphosphates. In contrast, NTPDase2 is a preferential nucleoside triphosphatase. This study characterizes expression of these E-NTPDases in the mouse cochlea by immunohistochemistry. NTPDase1 can be immunolocalized to the cochlear vasculature and neural tissues (primary auditory neurons in the spiral ganglion). In contrast, NTPDase2 immunolabeling was principally localized to synaptic regions of the sensory inner and outer hair cells, stereocilia and cuticular plates of the outer hair cells, supporting cells of the organ of Corti (Deiters’ cells and inner border cells), efferent nerve fibers located in the intraganglionic spiral bundle, and in the outer sulcus and root region of the spiral ligament. This differential expression of NTPDase1 and 2 in the cochlea suggests spatial regulation of P2 receptor signaling, potentially involving different nucleotide species and hydrolysis kinetics.

Ultrastructural Cochlear Changes following Acoustic Hyperstimulation and Ototoxicity

1976 ◽  
Vol 85 (6) ◽  
pp. 740-751 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Lim
Keyword(s):  
Hair Cells ◽  
Sensory Cell ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Organ Of Corti ◽  
Acoustic Trauma ◽  
Nerve Fibers ◽  
Outer Hair Cells ◽  
Type I ◽  
Cell Degeneration ◽  
Inner Hair Cells

Using guinea pigs and chinchillas as experimental animals, modes and patterns of sensory cell damage by acoustic hyperstimulation and kanamycin intoxication were compared. In general, outer hair cells were more vulnerable to both acoustic trauma and ototoxicity (particularly in the basal turn) than inner hair cells. However, in kanamycin ototoxicity, the inner hair cells were more vulnerable in the apical coil. Nerve endings and nerve fibers generally were resistant to both acoustic trauma and kanamycin intoxication, and their degeneration appears to be secondary to the sensory cell degeneration. A large number of unmyelinated nerve fibers were seen in both the organ of Corti and the osseous spiral lamina even three months after the organ of Corti had been completely degenerated by ototoxicity. The total number of unmyelinated and myelinated nerve fibers in the osseous spiral lamina far exceeded the scanty surviving ganglion cells in Rosenthal's canal, indicating the possibility of regeneration of these fibers following kanamycin intoxication. The remaining few ganglion cells were mainly type II or type III cells, and a majority of the type I ganglion cells appeared to be degenerated. Signs of strial damage were observed in both acoustic trauma and ototoxicity, but their pattern did not correlate well with that of sensory cell degeneration.

Efferent Components of the Auditory System

1980 ◽  
Vol 89 (5_suppl) ◽  
pp. 114-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Bruce Warr
Keyword(s):  
Axonal Transport ◽  
Hair Cells ◽  
Organ Of Corti ◽  
Outer Hair Cells ◽  
Superior Olivary Complex ◽  
Cell Group ◽  
Efferent Innervation ◽  
Tissue Sections ◽  
Cells Of Origin ◽  
Medial Olivocochlear

The origins and terminations of the olivocochlear bundle, which provides an efferent innervation to the organ of Corti, are described on the basis of experiments using axonal transport of tracer substances and light microscopy in the cat. The cells of origin were labeled by the retrograde tracer horseradish peroxidase which was injected unilaterally into the cochlea. Labeled cells in the superior olivary complex could be dichotomized according to their location (lateral or medial), their size (small or large), and their preferred side of projection (uncrossed or crossed). All labeled olivocochlear neurons exhibited a positive reaction for acetylcholinesterase. To determine the cochlear projections of the neurons, injections of a radioactive amino acid were made into either the lateral or medial olivocochlear cell group. After allowing time for synthesis and axonal transport of radio-labeled protein to reach synaptic endings in the cochleas, the tissue sections of these specimens were processed for autoradiography. The results indicate that lateral olivocochlear neurons project to the region beneath the inner hair cells of both sides, whereas medial olivocochlear neurons project to the region beneath the outer hair cells of both sides. These findings are in substantial accord with previous experimental work but suggest that the organ of Corti receives a dual efferent innervation which is organized according to the location and morphology of its cells of origin. Accordingly, it is proposed that the two efferent components of the cochlear innervation described here be referred to as the lateral and medial olivocochlear systems, replacing the current designations of crossed and uncrossed olivocochlear bundles, the latter which are demonstrably heterogeneous in their origins and terminations and, probably, also in their functions.

scholarly journals Recording and labeling at a site along the cochlea shows alignment of medial olivocochlear and auditory nerve tonotopic mappings

2016 ◽  
Vol 115 (3) ◽  
pp. 1644-1653 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Christian Brown
Keyword(s):  
Hair Cells ◽  
Auditory Nerve ◽  
Extracellular Recording ◽  
Nerve Fibers ◽  
Outer Hair Cells ◽  
Basal Turn ◽  
Afferent Fibers ◽  
Medial Olivocochlear ◽  
A Site

Medial olivocochlear (MOC) neurons provide an efferent innervation to outer hair cells (OHCs) of the cochlea, but their tonotopic mapping is incompletely known. In the present study of anesthetized guinea pigs, the MOC mapping was investigated using in vivo, extracellular recording, and labeling at a site along the cochlear course of the axons. The MOC axons enter the cochlea at its base and spiral apically, successively turning out to innervate OHCs according to their characteristic frequencies (CFs). Recordings made at a site in the cochlear basal turn yielded a distribution of MOC CFs with an upper limit, or “edge,” due to usually absent higher-CF axons that presumably innervate more basal locations. The CFs at the edge, normalized across preparations, were equal to the CFs of the auditory nerve fibers (ANFs) at the recording sites (near 16 kHz). Corresponding anatomical data from extracellular injections showed spiraling MOC axons giving rise to an edge of labeling at the position of a narrow band of labeled ANFs. Overall, the edges of the MOC CFs and labeling, with their correspondences to ANFs, suggest similar tonotopic mappings of these efferent and afferent fibers, at least in the cochlear basal turn. They also suggest that MOC axons miss much of the position of the more basally located cochlear amplifier appropriate for their CF; instead, the MOC innervation may be optimized for protection from damage by acoustic overstimulation.

scholarly journals All Three Rows of Outer Hair Cells Are Required for Cochlear Amplification

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michio Murakoshi ◽  
Sho Suzuki ◽  
Hiroshi Wada
Keyword(s):  
Hair Cells ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Basilar Membrane ◽  
Organ Of Corti ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Outer Hair Cells ◽  
Displacement Amplitude ◽  
Cochlear Amplification

In the mammalian auditory system, the three rows of outer hair cells (OHCs) located in the cochlea are thought to increase the displacement amplitude of the organ of Corti. This cochlear amplification is thought to contribute to the high sensitivity, wide dynamic range, and sharp frequency selectivity of the hearing system. Recent studies have shown that traumatic stimuli, such as noise exposure and ototoxic acid, cause functional loss of OHCs in one, two, or all three rows. However, the degree of decrease in cochlear amplification caused by such functional losses remains unclear. In the present study, a finite element model of a cross section of the gerbil cochlea was constructed. Then, to determine effects of the functional losses of OHCs on the cochlear amplification, changes in the displacement amplitude of the basilar membrane (BM) due to the functional losses of OHCs were calculated. Results showed that the displacement amplitude of the BM decreases significantly when a single row of OHCs lost its function, suggesting that all three rows of OHCs are required for cochlear amplification.

scholarly journals In vivo optogenetics reveals homeostatic control of cochlear sensitivity by supporting cells

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Lukashkina ◽  
Snezana Levic ◽  
Patricio Simões ◽  
Zhenhang Xu ◽  
Joseph DiGuiseppi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hair Cells ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Organ Of Corti ◽  
Feedback System ◽  
Supporting Cell ◽  
Outer Hair Cells ◽  
Supporting Cells ◽  
Cochlear Supporting Cells

Abstract We used optogenetics to investigate the control of auditory sensitivity by cochlear supporting cells that scaffold outer hair cells, which transduce and amplify cochlear responses to sound. In vivo and in vitro measurements of sound-induced cochlear mechanical and electrical responses were made from mice that conditionally expressed nonselective cationic channelrhodopsins in Deiters’ and outer pillar supporting cells in the organ of Corti. We demonstrated that cochlear light-stimulation and subsequent activation of channelrhodopsins depolarized the supporting cells, changed their extracellular electrical environment, and sensitized insensitive and desensitized sensitive cochlear responses to sound. We concluded that outer hair cells, Deiters’ cells and outer pillar cells interact through feedback which regulates their immediate ionic and electrical environment and controls energy flow in the mammalian cochlea to optimize its performance over its entire dynamic range. Activation of the supporting cell channelrhodopsins shunts this feedback system and restores cochlear sensitivity to a set level.

scholarly journals Immunohistochemistry localises myosin-7a to cochlear efferent boutons

2022 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Piotr Sirko ◽  
Andrei S. Kozlov
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Vestibular System ◽  
Hair Cells ◽  
Usher Syndrome ◽  
Organ Of Corti ◽  
Outer Hair Cells ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Cochlear Gain ◽  
Medial Olivocochlear

Background: Myosin 7a is an actin-binding motor protein involved in the formation of hair-cell stereocilia both in the cochlea and in the vestibular system. Mutations in myosin 7a are linked to congenital hearing loss and are present in 50% of Type-1 Usher syndrome patients who suffer from progressive hearing loss and vestibular system dysfunction. Methods: Myosin 7a is often used to visualise sensory hair cells due to its well characterised and localised expression profile. We thus conducted myosin-7a immunostaining across all three turns of the adult rat organ of Corti to visualise hair cells. Results: As expected, we observed myosin 7a staining in both inner and outer hair cells. Unexpectedly, we also observed strong myosin 7a staining in the medial olivocochlear efferent synaptic boutons contacting the outer hair cells. Efferent bouton myosin-7a staining was present across all three turns of the cochlea. We verified this localisation by co-staining with a known efferent bouton marker, the vesicular acetylcholine transporter. Conclusions: In addition to its role in stereocilia formation and maintenance, myosin 7a or certain myosin-7a expression variants might play a role in efferent synaptic transmission in the cochlea and thus ultimately influence cochlear gain regulation. Our immunohistochemistry results should be validated with other methods to confirm these serendipitous findings.

Evidence for an Active Process and a Cochlear Amplifier in Nonmammals

2001 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 541-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey A. Manley
Keyword(s):  
Hair Cell ◽  
Hair Cells ◽  
Organ Of Corti ◽  
Outer Hair Cells ◽  
Lateral Line System ◽  
Cochlear Amplifier ◽  
Fluid Viscosity ◽  
Active Process ◽  
Line System ◽  
Active Processes

The last two decades have produced a great deal of evidence that in the mammalian organ of Corti outer hair cells undergo active shape changes that are part of a “cochlear amplifier” mechanism that increases sensitivity and frequency selectivity of the hearing epithelium. However, many signs of active processes have also been found in nonmammals, raising the question as to the ancestry and commonality of these mechanisms. Active movements would be advantageous in all kinds of sensory hair cells because they help signal detection at levels near those of thermal noise and also help to overcome fluid viscosity. Such active mechanisms therefore presumably arose in the earliest kinds of hair cells that were part of the lateral line system of fish. These cells were embedded in a firm epithelium and responded to relative motion between the hair bundle and the hair cell, making it highly likely that the first active motor mechanism was localized in the hair-cell bundle. In terrestrial nonmammals, there are many auditory phenomena that are best explained by the presence of a cochlear amplifier, indicating that in this respect the mammalian ear is not unique. The latest evidence supports siting the active process in nonmammals in the hair-cell bundle and in intimate association with the transduction process.

Innervation of the Cochlea of the Guinea Pig by Use of the Golgi Stain

1975 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 443-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine A. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Hair Cells ◽  
Guinea Pigs ◽  
Basilar Membrane ◽  
Organ Of Corti ◽  
Nerve Fibers ◽  
Outer Hair Cells ◽  
Single Row ◽  
Golgi Stain ◽  
Branching Patterns

Nerve fibers with distinctive branching patterns have been demonstrated in guinea pigs by use of the Golgi stain. The cochlear nerve fibers in the basal turn tend to supply a limited segment of the basilar membrane and have most endings on a single row of hair cells. The efferent olivocochlear nerve fibers ramify in a manner which varies from base to apex. Some efferents which terminate on outer hair cells also give branches which course in the inner spiral bundle. Other nerve fibers were studied in the spiral lamina which did not penetrate into the organ of Corti.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document