Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2001 Jan;44(1):15-20.

Expression of Voltage-dependent Na+ Channels in the Albino Guinea Pig Cochlea

• Lee SW
• Lee SK
• Cho NS
• Song TH
• Lee BD
• Chang HS
• Kang JW
• Kim YJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The endolymph produced from cochlear lateral wall regulates fluid and maintains positive endocochlear potential. Although many immunohistochemical studies of ion transport enzymes in the cochlear lateral wall have been reported, their mechanisms are still not completely understood. And there are no reports on the studies of anti-Na+ channels in the cochlea of the guinea pig. The voltage-dependent ion channels are fundamental components of neuronal activity. The Na+ channel has a single alpha subunit with 4 pseudosubunits of 6 transmembrane segments each. Expression of the pore-forming and voltage-sensing alpha or alpha1 subunit typically leads to the appearance of channels with voltage- and time-dependent gating and ion conductance. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the expression of the Na+ channel type I and II in the cochlea lateral wall.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We investigated the protein identification by western blot after homogenization and immunohistochemical localization by FITC to the anti-Na+ channel type I and II in the cochlea of the Preyer's positive, white guinea pigs.
RESULTS
The results showed that the anti-Na+ channel type I and II were expressed strongly in the intermediate cells of the stria vascularis, and weakly in the stria vascularis.
CONCLUSION
We suggest that there are voltage-dependent Na+ channels in the stria vascularis of cochlea and those functions are further evaulated physiologically by the patch clamp technique.

Keyword

Ion channel gating; Stria vascularis

MeSH Terms

Animals
Blotting, Western
Cochlea*
Endolymph
Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate
Guinea Pigs*
Guinea*
Ion Channel Gating
Ion Channels
Ion Transport
Neurons
Stria Vascularis
Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate
Ion Channels