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Cytoskeletal and muscle-like elements in cochlear hair cells

Aktin und Tubulin — strukturelle und kontraktile Moleküle in den Sinneszellen der Cochlea

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Zusammenfassung

Monospezifische Antikörper gegen Aktin und Tubulin wurden in Kaninchen induziert und zum Nachweis von Mikrotubuli und Mikrofilamenten im Cortischen Organ von Mäusen und Meerschweinchen angewandt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, daß Tubulin und Mikrotubuli Strukturelemente der Hörzellen sind, die deren Zytoskelett bilden. Während Mikrotubuli vorwiegend für die mechanische Stabilität der Haarzellen verantwortlich gemacht werden, läßt der Nachweis von Aktin die Möglichkeit eines kontraktilen Mechanismus in den Stereozilien zu. Für beide Proteine wird eine wesentliche Rolle bei der mechano-chemischen Kopplung des Hörorgans diskutiert.

Summary

Monospecific antibodies to actin and to tubulin were used as immunofluorescent probes to evaluate the distribution of microtubules and actin filaments in the organ of Corti in mouse and guinea pig. The results indicate that in cochlear receptor cells actin and actin filaments as well as tubulin and microtubules are integral cytoskeletal elements. The presence of actin suggests a possible contractile mechanism within the sensory cilia whereas tubulin is thought to play an important role in the stability of sensory cells. Both proteins are discussed to form structural elements required for the mechano-chemical coupling in hearing.

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Abbreviations

ATP:

adenosin-tri-phosphate

SDS:

sodium-dodecyl-sulphate

PBS:

phosphate-buffered saline

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, University of Würzburg Medical School, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, D-8700, Würzburg, Federal Republic of Germany

    Hans P. Zenner

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  1. Hans P. Zenner
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Dedicated to Professor Dr. A. Herrmann on the occasion of his 80th birthday

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Zenner, H.P. Cytoskeletal and muscle-like elements in cochlear hair cells. Arch Otorhinolaryngol 230, 81–92 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00665383

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00665383

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