The Notch Ligand Jagged1 is Required for the Formation, Maintenance, and Survival of Hensen Cells in the Mouse Cochlea

ABSTRACTDuring cochlear development, the Notch ligand JAGGED 1 (JAG1) plays an important role in the specification of the prosensory region, which gives rise to sound-sensing hair cells and neighboring supporting cells (SCs). While JAG1’s expression is maintained in SCs through adulthood, the function of JAG1 in SC development is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that JAG1 is essential for the formation and maintenance of Hensen cells (HeCs), a highly specialized SC-subtype located at the edge of the auditory epithelium. Deletion of Jag1 at the onset of differentiation, at stage E14.5, disrupted HeC formation. Similar loss of HeCs was observed when Jag1 was deleted at P0/P1 and fate-mapping analysis revealed that in the absence of Jag1 some HeCs die, but others convert into neighboring Claudius cells. In support of a role for JAG1 in cell survival, genes involved in mitochondrial function and protein synthesis were downregulated in P0 cochlea lacking Jag1.

ATP activates a cation conductance and Ca(2+)-dependent Cl- conductance in Hensen cells of guinea pig cochlea

Simultaneous whole cell patch-clamp and indo 1 fluorescence measurements were used to characterize ATP-evoked membrane currents and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) changes in isolated Hensen cells of the guinea pig organ of Corti. At negative holding potential, ATP activated a biphasic inward current and a concomitant increase in [Ca2+]i. The initial current activated within < 50 ms, showed a reversal potential near 0 mV and was reversibly inhibited by 30 microM suramin, suggesting this conductance was mediated by ATP-gated nonselective cation channels. The delayed ATP-activated current was mainly carried by Cl- as indicated by its shift in reversal potential when intracellular Cl- was replaced by gluconate. This Cl- conductance appeared to be Ca(2+)-activated secondarily to Ca2+ influx, since it required the presence of extracellular Ca2+ and was suppressed when an intracellular solution containing 10 mM 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid was used. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, ATP still increased [Ca2+]i concomitant with a monophasic inward cation current, indicating Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. We conclude that Hensen cells have ionotropic and metabotropic P2 purinoceptors. They also have Ca(2+)-activated Cl- channels that can be activated by extracellular ATP, suggesting that purinoceptors in Hensen cells could play a regulatory role in ion and water balance of cochlear fluids.