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Martin HR, Lysakowski A, Eatock RA. The potassium channel subunit K V1.8 ( Kcna10) is essential for the distinctive outwardly rectifying conductances of type I and II vestibular hair cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.21.563853. [PMID: 38045305 PMCID: PMC10690164 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.21.563853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
In amniotes, head motions and tilt are detected by two types of vestibular hair cells (HCs) with strikingly different morphology and physiology. Mature type I HCs express a large and very unusual potassium conductance, gK,L, which activates negative to resting potential, confers very negative resting potentials and low input resistances, and enhances an unusual non-quantal transmission from type I cells onto their calyceal afferent terminals. Following clues pointing to KV1.8 (KCNA10) in the Shaker K channel family as a candidate gK,L subunit, we compared whole-cell voltage-dependent currents from utricular hair cells of KV1.8-null mice and littermate controls. We found that KV1.8 is necessary not just for gK,L but also for fast-inactivating and delayed rectifier currents in type II HCs, which activate positive to resting potential. The distinct properties of the three KV1.8-dependent conductances may reflect different mixing with other KV subunits that are reported to be differentially expressed in type I and II HCs. In KV1.8-null HCs of both types, residual outwardly rectifying conductances include KV7 (KCNQ) channels. Current clamp records show that in both HC types, KV1.8-dependent conductances increase the speed and damping of voltage responses. Features that speed up vestibular receptor potentials and non-quantal afferent transmission may have helped stabilize locomotion as tetrapods moved from water to land.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna Lysakowski
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
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Pastras CJ, Curthoys IS. Vestibular Testing-New Physiological Results for the Optimization of Clinical VEMP Stimuli. Audiol Res 2023; 13:910-928. [PMID: 37987337 PMCID: PMC10660708 DOI: 10.3390/audiolres13060079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Both auditory and vestibular primary afferent neurons can be activated by sound and vibration. This review relates the differences between them to the different receptor/synaptic mechanisms of the two systems, as shown by indicators of peripheral function-cochlear and vestibular compound action potentials (cCAPs and vCAPs)-to click stimulation as recorded in animal studies. Sound- and vibration-sensitive type 1 receptors at the striola of the utricular macula are enveloped by the unique calyx afferent ending, which has three modes of synaptic transmission. Glutamate is the transmitter for both cochlear and vestibular primary afferents; however, blocking glutamate transmission has very little effect on vCAPs but greatly reduces cCAPs. We suggest that the ultrafast non-quantal synaptic mechanism called resistive coupling is the cause of the short latency vestibular afferent responses and related results-failure of transmitter blockade, masking, and temporal precision. This "ultrafast" non-quantal transmission is effectively electrical coupling that is dependent on the membrane potentials of the calyx and the type 1 receptor. The major clinical implication is that decreasing stimulus rise time increases vCAP response, corresponding to the increased VEMP response in human subjects. Short rise times are optimal in human clinical VEMP testing, whereas long rise times are mandatory for audiometric threshold testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Pastras
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia;
| | - Ian S. Curthoys
- Vestibular Research Laboratory, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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Pastras CJ, Curthoys IS, Asadnia M, McAlpine D, Rabbitt RD, Brown DJ. Evidence That Ultrafast Nonquantal Transmission Underlies Synchronized Vestibular Action Potential Generation. J Neurosci 2023; 43:7149-7157. [PMID: 37775302 PMCID: PMC10601366 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1417-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Amniotes evolved a unique postsynaptic terminal in the inner ear vestibular organs called the calyx that receives both quantal and nonquantal (NQ) synaptic inputs from Type I sensory hair cells. The nonquantal synaptic current includes an ultrafast component that has been hypothesized to underlie the exceptionally high synchronization index (vector strength) of vestibular afferent neurons in response to sound and vibration. Here, we present three lines of evidence supporting the hypothesis that nonquantal transmission is responsible for synchronized vestibular action potentials of short latency in the guinea pig utricle of either sex. First, synchronized vestibular nerve responses are unchanged after administration of the AMPA receptor antagonist CNQX, while auditory nerve responses are completely abolished. Second, stimulus evoked vestibular nerve compound action potentials (vCAP) are shown to occur without measurable synaptic delay and three times shorter than the latency of auditory nerve compound action potentials (cCAP), relative to the generation of extracellular receptor potentials. Third, paired-pulse stimuli designed to deplete the readily releasable pool (RRP) of synaptic vesicles in hair cells reveal forward masking in guinea pig auditory cCAPs, but a complete lack of forward masking in vestibular vCAPs. Results support the conclusion that the fast component of nonquantal transmission at calyceal synapses is indefatigable and responsible for ultrafast responses of vestibular organs evoked by transient stimuli.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The mammalian vestibular system drives some of the fastest reflex pathways in the nervous system, ensuring stable gaze and postural control for locomotion on land. To achieve this, terrestrial amniotes evolved a large, unique calyx afferent terminal which completely envelopes one or more presynaptic vestibular hair cells, which transmits mechanosensory signals mediated by quantal and nonquantal (NQ) synaptic transmission. We present several lines of evidence in the guinea pig which reveals the most sensitive vestibular afferents are remarkably fast, much faster than their auditory nerve counterparts. Here, we present neurophysiological and pharmacological evidence that demonstrates this vestibular speed advantage arises from ultrafast NQ electrical synaptic transmission from Type I hair cells to their calyx partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Pastras
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Ian S Curthoys
- School of Psychology, Vestibular Research Laboratory, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2050, Australia
- Department of Linguistics, The Australian Hearing Hub, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Mohsen Asadnia
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - David McAlpine
- Department of Linguistics, The Australian Hearing Hub, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Richard D Rabbitt
- Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Otolaryngology, and Neuroscience Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
| | - Daniel J Brown
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
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Pastras CJ, Curthoys IS, Rabbitt RD, Brown DJ. Using macular velocity measurements to relate parameters of bone conduction to vestibular compound action potential responses. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10204. [PMID: 37353559 PMCID: PMC10290084 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37102-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
To examine mechanisms responsible for vestibular afferent sensitivity to transient bone conducted vibration, we performed simultaneous measurements of stimulus-evoked vestibular compound action potentials (vCAPs), utricular macula velocity, and vestibular microphonics (VMs) in anaesthetized guinea pigs. Results provide new insights into the kinematic variables of transient motion responsible for triggering mammalian vCAPs, revealing synchronized vestibular afferent responses are not universally sensitive to linear jerk as previously thought. For short duration stimuli (< 1 ms), the vCAP increases magnitude in close proportion to macular velocity and temporal bone (linear) acceleration, rather than other kinematic elements. For longer duration stimuli, the vCAP magnitude switches from temporal bone acceleration sensitive to linear jerk sensitive while maintaining macular velocity sensitivity. Frequency tuning curves evoked by tone-burst stimuli show vCAPs increase in proportion to onset macular velocity, while VMs increase in proportion to macular displacement across the entire frequency bandwidth tested between 0.1 and 2 kHz. The subset of vestibular afferent neurons responsible for synchronized firing and vCAPs have been shown previously to make calyceal synaptic contacts with type I hair cells in the striolar region of the epithelium and have irregularly spaced inter-spike intervals at rest. Present results provide new insight into mechanical and neural mechanisms underlying synchronized action potentials in these sensitive afferents, with clinical relevance for understanding the activation and tuning of neurons responsible for driving rapid compensatory reflex responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Pastras
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
- School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia.
| | - Ian S Curthoys
- Vestibular Research Laboratory, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Richard D Rabbitt
- Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Otolaryngology and Neuroscience Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Daniel J Brown
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia
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Poppi L, Bigland M, Cresswell E, Tabatabaee H, Lorincz D, Drury H, Callister R, Holt J, Lim R, Brichta A, Smith D. Molecular and Functional Changes to Postsynaptic Cholinergic Signaling in the Vestibular Sensory Organs of Aging C57BL/6 Mice. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2023; 78:920-929. [PMID: 36840917 PMCID: PMC10235202 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glad067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholinergic circuits in the central nervous system are vulnerable to age-related functional decline, but it is not known if aging impacts cholinergic signaling in the vestibular sensory organs, which are critically important to balance maintenance and visual gaze stability. We have previously shown cholinergic neurotransmission between vestibular efferent terminals and type II mechanosensory hair cells requires the alpha9 (Chrna9) nicotinic receptor subunit. Homozygous knockout of the alpha9 subunit causes vestibulo-ocular reflex adaptation deficits that mirror those observed in aged mice. This prompted examination of cholinergic signaling in the vestibular sensory organs of aged mice. We confirmed older (>24 months) mice had impaired performance in a balance beam task compared to young (3-4 months) adult mice. While there was no qualitative loss of cholinergic axon varicosities in the crista ampullaris of old mice, qPCR analysis revealed reduced expression of nicotinic receptor subunit genes Chrna1, Chrna9, and Chrna10 in the cristae of old relative to young mice. Functionally, single-cell patch clamp recordings taken from type II vestibular hair cells exposed to acetylcholine show reduced conductance through alpha9/10 subunit-containing nicotinic receptors in older mice, despite preserved passive membrane properties and voltage-activated conductances. These findings suggest that cholinergic signaling in the peripheral vestibular sensory organs is vulnerable to aging processes, manifesting in dynamic molecular and functional age-related changes. Given the importance of these organs to our everyday activities, and the dramatic increase in fall incidence in the older, further investigation into the mechanisms of altered peripheral vestibular function in older humans is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A Poppi
- Neurobiology of Aging and Dementia and Vestibular Neurobiology Laboratories, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mark J Bigland
- Neurobiology of Aging and Dementia and Vestibular Neurobiology Laboratories, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ethan T Cresswell
- Neurobiology of Aging and Dementia and Vestibular Neurobiology Laboratories, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hessam Tabatabaee
- Neurobiology of Aging and Dementia and Vestibular Neurobiology Laboratories, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David Lorincz
- Neurobiology of Aging and Dementia and Vestibular Neurobiology Laboratories, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hannah R Drury
- Neurobiology of Aging and Dementia and Vestibular Neurobiology Laboratories, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Robert J Callister
- Neurobiology of Aging and Dementia and Vestibular Neurobiology Laboratories, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Joseph C Holt
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Rebecca Lim
- Neurobiology of Aging and Dementia and Vestibular Neurobiology Laboratories, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alan M Brichta
- Neurobiology of Aging and Dementia and Vestibular Neurobiology Laboratories, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Doug W Smith
- Neurobiology of Aging and Dementia and Vestibular Neurobiology Laboratories, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
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Meredith FL, Vu TA, Gehrke B, Benke TA, Dondzillo A, Rennie KJ. Expression of hyperpolarization-activated current ( Ih) in zonally defined vestibular calyx terminals of the crista. J Neurophysiol 2023; 129:1468-1481. [PMID: 37198134 PMCID: PMC10259860 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00135.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Calyx terminals make afferent synapses with type I hair cells in vestibular epithelia and express diverse ionic conductances that influence action potential generation and discharge regularity in vestibular afferent neurons. Here we investigated the expression of hyperpolarization-activated current (Ih) in calyx terminals in central and peripheral zones of mature gerbil crista slices, using whole cell patch-clamp recordings. Slowly activating Ih was present in >80% calyces tested in both zones. Peak Ih and half-activation voltages were not significantly different; however, Ih activated with a faster time course in peripheral compared with central zone calyces. Calyx Ih in both zones was blocked by 4-(N-ethyl-N-phenylamino)-1,2-dimethyl-6-(methylamino) pyrimidinium chloride (ZD7288; 100 µM), and the resting membrane potential became more hyperpolarized. In the presence of dibutyryl-cAMP (dB-cAMP), peak Ih was increased, activation kinetics became faster, and the voltage of half-activation was more depolarized compared with control calyces. In current clamp, calyces from both zones showed three different categories of firing: spontaneous firing, phasic firing where a single action potential was evoked after a hyperpolarizing pulse, or a single evoked action potential followed by membrane potential oscillations. In the absence of Ih, the latency to peak of the action potential increased; Ih produces a small depolarizing current that facilitates firing by driving the membrane potential closer to threshold. Immunostaining showed the expression of HCN2 subunits in calyx terminals. We conclude that Ih is found in calyx terminals across the crista and could influence conventional and novel forms of synaptic transmission at the type I hair cell-calyx synapse.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Calyx afferent terminals make synapses with vestibular hair cells and express diverse conductances that impact action potential firing in vestibular primary afferents. Conventional and nonconventional synaptic transmission modes are influenced by hyperpolarization-activated current (Ih), but regional differences were previously unexplored. We show that Ih is present in both central and peripheral calyces of the mammalian crista. Ih produces a small depolarizing resting current that facilitates firing by driving the membrane potential closer to threshold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances L Meredith
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - Tiffany A Vu
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - Brandon Gehrke
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - Timothy A Benke
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - Anna Dondzillo
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - Katherine J Rennie
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States
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Pastras CJ, Gholami N, Jennings S, Zhu H, Zhou W, Brown DJ, Curthoys IS, Rabbitt RD. A mathematical model for mechanical activation and compound action potential generation by the utricle in response to sound and vibration. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1109506. [PMID: 37051057 PMCID: PMC10083375 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1109506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Calyx bearing vestibular afferent neurons innervating type I hair cells in the striolar region of the utricle are exquisitely sensitive to auditory-frequency air conducted sound (ACS) and bone conducted vibration (BCV). Here, we present experimental data and a mathematical model of utricular mechanics and vestibular compound action potential generation (vCAP) in response to clinically relevant levels of ACS and BCV. Vibration of the otoconial layer relative to the sensory epithelium was simulated using a Newtonian two-degree-of-freedom spring-mass-damper system, action potential timing was simulated using an empirical model, and vCAPs were simulated by convolving responses of the population of sensitive neurons with an empirical extracellular voltage kernel. The model was validated by comparison to macular vibration and vCAPs recorded in the guinea pig, in vivo. Results Transient stimuli evoked short-latency vCAPs that scaled in magnitude and timing with hair bundle mechanical shear rate for both ACS and BCV. For pulse BCV stimuli with durations <0.8 ms, the vCAP magnitude increased in proportion to temporal bone acceleration, but for pulse durations >0.9 ms the magnitude increased in proportion to temporal bone jerk. Once validated using ACS and BCV data, the model was applied to predict blast-induced hair bundle shear, with results predicting acute mechanical damage to bundles immediately upon exposure. Discussion Results demonstrate the switch from linear acceleration to linear jerk as the adequate stimulus arises entirely from mechanical factors controlling the dynamics of sensory hair bundle deflection. The model describes the switch in terms of the mechanical natural frequencies of vibration, which vary between species based on morphology and mechanical factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Pastras
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nastaran Gholami
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Skyler Jennings
- Communication Sciences and Neuroscience Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Hong Zhu
- University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Wu Zhou
- University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Daniel J. Brown
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
| | - Ian S. Curthoys
- Vestibular Research Laboratory, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Richard D. Rabbitt
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Otolaryngology and Neuroscience Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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Spaiardi P, Marcotti W, Masetto S, Johnson SL. Signal transmission in mature mammalian vestibular hair cells. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:806913. [PMID: 35936492 PMCID: PMC9353129 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.806913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The maintenance of balance and gaze relies on the faithful and rapid signaling of head movements to the brain. In mammals, vestibular organs contain two types of sensory hair cells, type-I and type-II, which convert the head motion-induced movement of their hair bundles into a graded receptor potential that drives action potential activity in their afferent fibers. While signal transmission in both hair cell types involves Ca2+-dependent quantal release of glutamate at ribbon synapses, type-I cells appear to also exhibit a non-quantal mechanism that is believed to increase transmission speed. However, the reliance of mature type-I hair cells on non-quantal transmission remains unknown. Here we investigated synaptic transmission in mammalian utricular hair cells using patch-clamp recording of Ca2+ currents and changes in membrane capacitance (ΔCm). We found that mature type-II hair cells showed robust exocytosis with a high-order dependence on Ca2+ entry. By contrast, exocytosis was approximately 10 times smaller in type-I hair cells. Synaptic vesicle exocytosis was largely absent in mature vestibular hair cells of CaV1.3 (CaV1.3−/−) and otoferlin (Otof−/−) knockout mice. Even though Ca2+-dependent exocytosis was small in type-I hair cells of wild-type mice, or absent in CaV1.3−/− and Otof−/−mice, these cells were able to drive action potential activity in the postsynaptic calyces. This supports a functional role for non-quantal synaptic transmission in type-I cells. The large vesicle pools in type-II cells would facilitate sustained transmission of tonic or low-frequency signals. In type-I cells, the restricted vesicle pool size, together with a rapid non-quantal mechanism, could allow them to sustain high-frequency phasic signal transmission at their specialized large calyceal synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Spaiardi
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Walter Marcotti
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Sheffield Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Sergio Masetto
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stuart L. Johnson
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Sheffield Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Stuart L. Johnson
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Contini D, Holstein GR, Art JJ. Simultaneous Dual Recordings From Vestibular Hair Cells and Their Calyx Afferents Demonstrate Multiple Modes of Transmission at These Specialized Endings. Front Neurol 2022; 13:891536. [PMID: 35899268 PMCID: PMC9310783 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.891536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In the vestibular periphery, transmission via conventional synaptic boutons is supplemented by post-synaptic calyceal endings surrounding Type I hair cells. This review focusses on the multiple modes of communication between these receptors and their enveloping calyces as revealed by simultaneous dual-electrode recordings. Classic orthodromic transmission is accompanied by two forms of bidirectional communication enabled by the extensive cleft between the Type I hair cell and its calyx. The slowest cellular communication low-pass filters the transduction current with a time constant of 10–100 ms: potassium ions accumulate in the synaptic cleft, depolarizing both the hair cell and afferent to potentials greater than necessary for rapid vesicle fusion in the receptor and potentially triggering action potentials in the afferent. On the millisecond timescale, conventional glutamatergic quantal transmission occurs when hair cells are depolarized to potentials sufficient for calcium influx and vesicle fusion. Depolarization also permits a third form of transmission that occurs over tens of microseconds, resulting from the large voltage- and ion-sensitive cleft-facing conductances in both the hair cell and the calyx that are open at their resting potentials. Current flowing out of either the hair cell or the afferent divides into the fraction flowing across the cleft into its cellular partner, and the remainder flowing out of the cleft and into the surrounding fluid compartment. These findings suggest multiple biophysical bases for the extensive repertoire of response dynamics seen in the population of primary vestibular afferent fibers. The results further suggest that evolutionary pressures drive selection for the calyx afferent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Contini
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Gay R. Holstein
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jonathan J. Art
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
- *Correspondence: Jonathan J. Art
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Mukhopadhyay M, Pangrsic T. Synaptic transmission at the vestibular hair cells of amniotes. Mol Cell Neurosci 2022; 121:103749. [PMID: 35667549 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2022.103749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A harmonized interplay between the central nervous system and the five peripheral end organs is how the vestibular system helps organisms feel a sense of balance and motion in three-dimensional space. The receptor cells of this system, much like their cochlear equivalents, are the specialized hair cells. However, research over the years has shown that the vestibular endorgans and hair cells evolved very differently from their cochlear counterparts. The structurally unique calyceal synapse, which appeared much later in the evolutionary time scale, and continues to intrigue researchers, is now known to support several forms of synaptic neurotransmission. The conventional quantal transmission is believed to employ the ribbon structures, which carry several tethered vesicles filled with neurotransmitters. However, the field of vestibular hair cell synaptic molecular anatomy is still at a nascent stage and needs further work. In this review, we will touch upon the basic structure and function of the peripheral vestibular system, with the focus on the various modes of neurotransmission at the type I vestibular hair cells. We will also shed light on the current knowledge about the molecular anatomy of the vestibular hair cell synapses and vestibular synaptopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohona Mukhopadhyay
- Experimental Otology Group, InnerEarLab, Department of Otolaryngology, University Medical Center Göttingen, and Institute for Auditory Neuroscience, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tina Pangrsic
- Experimental Otology Group, InnerEarLab, Department of Otolaryngology, University Medical Center Göttingen, and Institute for Auditory Neuroscience, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; Auditory Neuroscience Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; Collaborative Research Center 889, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Multiscale Bioimaging Cluster of Excellence (MBExC), University of Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
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11
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Manca M, Yen P, Spaiardi P, Russo G, Giunta R, Johnson SL, Marcotti W, Masetto S. Current Response in Ca V 1.3 -/- Mouse Vestibular and Cochlear Hair Cells. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:749483. [PMID: 34955713 PMCID: PMC8694397 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.749483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Signal transmission by sensory auditory and vestibular hair cells relies upon Ca2+-dependent exocytosis of glutamate. The Ca2+ current in mammalian inner ear hair cells is predominantly carried through CaV1.3 voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. Despite this, CaV1.3 deficient mice (CaV1.3–/–) are deaf but do not show any obvious vestibular phenotype. Here, we compared the Ca2+ current (ICa) in auditory and vestibular hair cells from wild-type and CaV1.3–/– mice, to assess whether differences in the size of the residual ICa could explain, at least in part, the two phenotypes. Using 5 mM extracellular Ca2+ and near-body temperature conditions, we investigated the cochlear primary sensory receptors inner hair cells (IHCs) and both type I and type II hair cells of the semicircular canals. We found that the residual ICa in both auditory and vestibular hair cells from CaV1.3–/– mice was less than 20% (12–19%, depending on the hair cell type and age investigated) compared to controls, indicating a comparable expression of CaV1.3 Ca2+ channels in both sensory organs. We also showed that, different from IHCs, type I and type II hair cells from CaV1.3–/– mice were able to acquire the adult-like K+ current profile in their basolateral membrane. Intercellular K+ accumulation was still present in CaV1.3–/– mice during IK,L activation, suggesting that the K+-based, non-exocytotic, afferent transmission is still functional in these mice. This non-vesicular mechanism might contribute to the apparent normal vestibular functions in CaV1.3–/– mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Manca
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Piece Yen
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Paolo Spaiardi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Russo
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Roberta Giunta
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stuart L Johnson
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.,Sheffield Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Walter Marcotti
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.,Sheffield Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Sergio Masetto
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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12
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Curthoys IS, Grant JW, Pastras CJ, Fröhlich L, Brown DJ. Similarities and Differences Between Vestibular and Cochlear Systems - A Review of Clinical and Physiological Evidence. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:695179. [PMID: 34456671 PMCID: PMC8397526 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.695179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The evoked response to repeated brief stimuli, such as clicks or short tone bursts, is used for clinical evaluation of the function of both the auditory and vestibular systems. One auditory response is a neural potential - the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) - recorded by surface electrodes on the head. The clinical analogue for testing the otolithic response to abrupt sounds and vibration is the myogenic potential recorded from tensed muscles - the vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP). VEMPs have provided clinicians with a long sought-after tool - a simple, clinically realistic indicator of the function of each of the 4 otolithic sensory regions. We review the basic neural evidence for VEMPs and discuss the similarities and differences between otolithic and cochlear receptors and afferents. VEMPs are probably initiated by sound or vibration selectively activating afferent neurons with irregular resting discharge originating from the unique type I receptors at a specialized region of the otolithic maculae (the striola). We review how changes in VEMP responses indicate the functional state of peripheral vestibular function and the likely transduction mechanisms allowing otolithic receptors and afferents to trigger such very short latency responses. In section "ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY" we show how cochlear and vestibular receptors and afferents have many similar electrophysiological characteristics [e.g., both generate microphonics, summating potentials, and compound action potentials (the vestibular evoked potential, VsEP)]. Recent electrophysiological evidence shows that the hydrodynamic changes in the labyrinth caused by increased fluid volume (endolymphatic hydrops), change the responses of utricular receptors and afferents in a way which mimics the changes in vestibular function attributed to endolymphatic hydrops in human patients. In section "MECHANICS OF OTOLITHS IN VEMPS TESTING" we show how the major VEMP results (latency and frequency response) follow from modeling the physical characteristics of the macula (dimensions, stiffness etc.). In particular, the structure and mechanical operation of the utricular macula explains the very fast response of the type I receptors and irregular afferents which is the very basis of VEMPs and these structural changes of the macula in Menière's Disease (MD) predict the upward shift of VEMP tuning in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian S. Curthoys
- Vestibular Research Laboratory, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - John Wally Grant
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Christopher J. Pastras
- The Menière’s Research Laboratory, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Laura Fröhlich
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Daniel J. Brown
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
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13
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Ramakrishna Y, Manca M, Glowatzki E, Sadeghi SG. Cholinergic Modulation of Membrane Properties of Calyx Terminals in the Vestibular Periphery. Neuroscience 2020; 452:98-110. [PMID: 33197502 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.10.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Vestibular nerve afferents are divided into regular and irregular groups based on the variability of interspike intervals in their resting discharge. Most afferents receive inputs from bouton terminals that contact type II hair cells as well as from calyx terminals that cover the basolateral walls of type I hair cells. Calyces have an abundance of different subtypes of KCNQ (Kv7) potassium channels and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) and receive cholinergic efferent inputs from neurons in the brainstem. We investigated whether mAChRs affected membrane properties and firing patterns of calyx terminals through modulation of KCNQ channel activity. Patch clamp recordings were performed from calyx terminals in central regions of the cristae of the horizontal and anterior canals in 13-26 day old Sprague-Dawley rats. KCNQ mediated currents were observed as voltage sensitive currents with slow kinetics (activation and deactivation), resulting in spike frequency adaptation so that calyces at best fired a single action potential at the beginning of a depolarizing step. Activation of mAChRs by application of oxotremorine methiodide or inhibition of KCNQ channels by linopirdine dihydrochloride decreased voltage activated currents by ∼30%, decreased first spike latencies by ∼40%, resulted in action potential generation in response to smaller current injections and at lower (i.e., more hyperpolarized) membrane potentials, and increased the number of spikes fired during depolarizing steps. Interestingly, some of the calyces showed spontaneous discharge in the presence of these drugs. Together, these findings suggest that cholinergic efferents can modulate the response properties and encoding of head movements by afferents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yugandhar Ramakrishna
- Center for Hearing and Deafness, Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States; Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences, California State University, Northridge, CA, United States
| | - Marco Manca
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, The Center for Hearing and Balance, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Elisabeth Glowatzki
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, The Center for Hearing and Balance, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Soroush G Sadeghi
- Center for Hearing and Deafness, Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States; Neuroscience Program, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.
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14
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Ramakrishna Y, Sadeghi SG. Activation of GABA B receptors results in excitatory modulation of calyx terminals in rat semicircular canal cristae. J Neurophysiol 2020; 124:962-972. [PMID: 32816581 PMCID: PMC7509296 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00243.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have found GABA in vestibular end organs. However, existence of GABA receptors or possible GABAergic effects on vestibular nerve afferents has not been investigated. The current study was conducted to determine whether activation of GABAB receptors affects calyx afferent terminals in the central region of the cristae of semicircular canals. We used patch-clamp recording in postnatal day 13-18 (P13-P18) Sprague-Dawley rats of either sex. Application of GABAB receptor agonist baclofen inhibited voltage-sensitive potassium currents. This effect was blocked by selective GABAB receptor antagonist CGP 35348. Application of antagonists of small (SK)- and large-conductance potassium (BK) channels almost completely blocked the effects of baclofen. The remaining baclofen effect was blocked by cadmium chloride, suggesting that it could be due to inhibition of voltage-gated calcium channels. Furthermore, baclofen had no effect in the absence of calcium in the extracellular fluid. Inhibition of potassium currents by GABAB activation resulted in an excitatory effect on calyx terminal action potential firing. While in the control condition calyces could only fire a single action potential during step depolarizations, in the presence of baclofen they fired continuously during steps and a few even showed repetitive discharge. We also found a decrease in threshold for action potential generation and a decrease in first-spike latency during step depolarization. These results provide the first evidence for the presence of GABAB receptors on calyx terminals, showing that their activation results in an excitatory effect and that GABA inputs could be used to modulate calyx response properties.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Using in vitro whole cell patch-clamp recordings from calyx terminals in the vestibular end organs, we show that activation of GABAB receptors result in an excitatory effect, with decreased spike-frequency adaptation and shortened first-spike latencies. Our results suggest that these effects are mediated through inhibition of calcium-sensitive potassium channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yugandhar Ramakrishna
- Center for Hearing and Deafness, Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
- Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences, California State University, Northridge, Northridge, California
| | - Soroush G Sadeghi
- Center for Hearing and Deafness, Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
- Neuroscience Program, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
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15
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Activation of Guinea Pig Irregular Semicircular Canal Afferents by 100 Hz Vibration: Clinical Implications for Vibration-induced Nystagmus and Vestibular-evoked Myogenic Potentials. Otol Neurotol 2020; 41:e961-e970. [DOI: 10.1097/mao.0000000000002791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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16
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Spaiardi P, Marcotti W, Masetto S, Johnson SL. Exocytosis in mouse vestibular Type II hair cells shows a high-order Ca 2+ dependence that is independent of synaptotagmin-4. Physiol Rep 2020; 8:e14509. [PMID: 32691536 PMCID: PMC7371649 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.14509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mature hair cells transduce information over a wide range of stimulus intensities and frequencies for prolonged periods of time. The efficiency of such a demanding task is reflected in the characteristics of exocytosis at their specialized presynaptic ribbons. Ribbons are electron-dense structures able to tether a large number of releasable vesicles allowing them to maintain high rates of vesicle release. Calcium entry through rapidly activating, non-inactivating CaV 1.3 (L-type) Ca2+ channels in response to cell depolarization causes a local increase in Ca2+ at the ribbon synapses, which is detected by the exocytotic Ca2+ sensors. The Ca2+ dependence of vesicle exocytosis at mammalian vestibular hair cell (VHC) ribbon synapses is believed to be linear, similar to that observed in mature cochlear inner hair cells (IHCs). The linear relation has been shown to correlate with the presence of the Ca2+ sensor synaptotagmin-4 (Syt-4). Therefore, we studied the exocytotic Ca2+ dependence, and the release kinetics of different vesicle pool populations, in Type II VHCs of control and Syt-4 knockout mice using patch-clamp capacitance measurements, under physiological recording conditions. We found that exocytosis in mature control and knockout Type II VHCs displayed a high-order dependence on Ca2+ entry, rather than the linear relation previously observed. Consistent with this finding, the Ca2+ dependence and release kinetics of the ready releasable pool (RRP) of vesicles were not affected by an absence of Syt-4. However, we did find that Syt-4 could play a role in regulating the release of the secondary releasable pool (SRP) in these cells. Our findings show that the coupling between Ca2+ influx and neurotransmitter release at mature Type II VHC ribbon synapses is faithfully described by a nonlinear relation that is likely to be more appropriate for the accurate encoding of low-frequency vestibular information, consistent with that observed at low-frequency mammalian auditory receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Spaiardi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral SciencesUniversity of PaviaPaviaItaly
| | - Walter Marcotti
- Department of Biomedical ScienceUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Sergio Masetto
- Department of Brain and Behavioral SciencesUniversity of PaviaPaviaItaly
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17
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Spaiardi P, Tavazzani E, Manca M, Russo G, Prigioni I, Biella G, Giunta R, Johnson SL, Marcotti W, Masetto S. K + Accumulation and Clearance in the Calyx Synaptic Cleft of Type I Mouse Vestibular Hair Cells. Neuroscience 2020; 426:69-86. [PMID: 31846752 PMCID: PMC6985899 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Vestibular organs of Amniotes contain two types of sensory cells, named Type I and Type II hair cells. While Type II hair cells are contacted by several small bouton nerve terminals, Type I hair cells receive a giant terminal, called a calyx, which encloses their basolateral membrane almost completely. Both hair cell types release glutamate, which depolarizes the afferent terminal by binding to AMPA post-synaptic receptors. However, there is evidence that non-vesicular signal transmission also occurs at the Type I hair cell-calyx synapse, possibly involving direct depolarization of the calyx by K+ exiting the hair cell. To better investigate this aspect, we performed whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from mouse Type I hair cells or their associated calyx. We found that [K+] in the calyceal synaptic cleft is elevated at rest relative to the interstitial (extracellular) solution and can increase or decrease during hair cell depolarization or repolarization, respectively. The change in [K+] was primarily driven by GK,L, the low-voltage-activated, non-inactivating K+ conductance specifically expressed by Type I hair cells. Simple diffusion of K+ between the cleft and the extracellular compartment appeared substantially restricted by the calyx inner membrane, with the ion channels and active transporters playing a crucial role in regulating intercellular [K+]. Calyx recordings were consistent with K+ leaving the synaptic cleft through postsynaptic voltage-gated K+ channels involving KV1 and KV7 subunits. The above scenario is consistent with direct depolarization and hyperpolarization of the calyx membrane potential by intercellular K+.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Spaiardi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - E Tavazzani
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - M Manca
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - G Russo
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - I Prigioni
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - G Biella
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - R Giunta
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - S L Johnson
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - W Marcotti
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - S Masetto
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy.
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18
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Babola TA, Kersbergen CJ, Wang HC, Bergles DE. Purinergic signaling in cochlear supporting cells reduces hair cell excitability by increasing the extracellular space. eLife 2020; 9:e52160. [PMID: 31913121 PMCID: PMC7015667 DOI: 10.7554/elife.52160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurons in developing sensory pathways exhibit spontaneous bursts of electrical activity that are critical for survival, maturation and circuit refinement. In the auditory system, intrinsically generated activity arises within the cochlea, but the molecular mechanisms that initiate this activity remain poorly understood. We show that burst firing of mouse inner hair cells prior to hearing onset requires P2RY1 autoreceptors expressed by inner supporting cells. P2RY1 activation triggers K+ efflux and depolarization of hair cells, as well as osmotic shrinkage of supporting cells that dramatically increased the extracellular space and speed of K+ redistribution. Pharmacological inhibition or genetic disruption of P2RY1 suppressed neuronal burst firing by reducing K+ release, but unexpectedly enhanced their tonic firing, as water resorption by supporting cells reduced the extracellular space, leading to K+ accumulation. These studies indicate that purinergic signaling in supporting cells regulates hair cell excitability by controlling the volume of the extracellular space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis A Babola
- The Solomon Snyder Department of NeuroscienceJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Calvin J Kersbergen
- The Solomon Snyder Department of NeuroscienceJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Han Chin Wang
- The Solomon Snyder Department of NeuroscienceJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Dwight E Bergles
- The Solomon Snyder Department of NeuroscienceJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUnited States
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck SurgeryJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUnited States
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery InstituteJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUnited States
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19
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrique von Gersdorff
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, 97239, USA.,Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, 97239, USA.,Oregon Hearing Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, 97239, USA
| | - Marta M Iversen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, USA
| | - Richard D Rabbitt
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, USA.,Department of Otolaryngology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, USA
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20
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Contini D, Holstein GR, Art JJ. Synaptic cleft microenvironment influences potassium permeation and synaptic transmission in hair cells surrounded by calyx afferents in the turtle. J Physiol 2019; 598:853-889. [PMID: 31623011 DOI: 10.1113/jp278680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS In central regions of vestibular semicircular canal epithelia, the [K+ ] in the synaptic cleft ([K+ ]c ) contributes to setting the hair cell and afferent membrane potentials; the potassium efflux from type I hair cells results from the interdependent gating of three conductances. Elevation of [K+ ]c occurs through a calcium-activated potassium conductance, GBK , and a low-voltage-activating delayed rectifier, GK(LV) , that activates upon elevation of [K+ ]c . Calcium influx that enables quantal transmission also activates IBK , an effect that can be blocked internally by BAPTA, and externally by a CaV 1.3 antagonist or iberiotoxin. Elevation of [K+ ]c or chelation of [Ca2+ ]c linearizes the GK(LV) steady-state I-V curve, suggesting that the outward rectification observed for GK(LV) may result largely from a potassium-sensitive relief of Ca2+ inactivation of the channel pore selectivity filter. Potassium sensitivity of hair cell and afferent conductances allows three modes of transmission: quantal, ion accumulation and resistive coupling to be multiplexed across the synapse. ABSTRACT In the vertebrate nervous system, ions accumulate in diffusion-limited synaptic clefts during ongoing activity. Such accumulation can be demonstrated at large appositions such as the hair cell-calyx afferent synapses present in central regions of the turtle vestibular semicircular canal epithelia. Type I hair cells influence discharge rates in their calyx afferents by modulating the potassium concentration in the synaptic cleft, [K+ ]c , which regulates potassium-sensitive conductances in both hair cell and afferent. Dual recordings from synaptic pairs have demonstrated that, despite a decreased driving force due to potassium accumulation, hair cell depolarization elicits sustained outward currents in the hair cell, and a maintained inward current in the afferent. We used kinetic and pharmacological dissection of the hair cell conductances to understand the interdependence of channel gating and permeation in the context of such restricted extracellular spaces. Hair cell depolarization leads to calcium influx and activation of a large calcium-activated potassium conductance, GBK , that can be blocked by agents that disrupt calcium influx or buffer the elevation of [Ca2+ ]i , as well as by the specific KCa 1.1 blocker iberiotoxin. Efflux of K+ through GBK can rapidly elevate [K+ ]c , which speeds the activation and slows the inactivation and deactivation of a second potassium conductance, GK(LV) . Elevation of [K+ ]c or chelation of [Ca2+ ]c linearizes the GK(LV) steady-state I-V curve, consistent with a K+ -dependent relief of Ca2+ inactivation of GK(LV) . As a result, this potassium-sensitive hair cell conductance pairs with the potassium-sensitive hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel (HCN) conductance in the afferent and creates resistive coupling at the synaptic cleft.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Contini
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 808 S. Wood St, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Gay R Holstein
- Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1468 Madison Ave, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Jonathan J Art
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, 808 S. Wood St, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
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21
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Wan G, Ji L, Schrepfer T, Gong S, Wang GP, Corfas G. Synaptopathy as a Mechanism for Age-Related Vestibular Dysfunction in Mice. Front Aging Neurosci 2019; 11:156. [PMID: 31293415 PMCID: PMC6606700 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2019.00156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related decline of inner ear function contributes to both hearing loss and balance disorders, which lead to impaired quality of life and falls that can result in injury and even death. The cellular mechanisms responsible for the ear's functional decline have been controversial, but hair cell loss has been considered the key cause for a long time. However, recent studies showed that in the cochlea, loss of inner hair cell (IHC) synapses precedes hair cell or neuronal loss, and this synaptopathy is an early step in the functional decline. Whether a similar process occurs in the vestibular organ, its timing and its relationship to organ dysfunction remained unknown. We compared the time course of age-related deterioration in vestibular and cochlear functions in mice as well as characterized the age-associated changes in their utricles at the histological level. We found that in the mouse, as in humans, age-related decline in vestibular evoked potentials (VsEPs) occurs later than hearing loss. As in the cochlea, deterioration of VsEPs correlates with the loss of utricular ribbon synapses but not hair cells or neuronal cell bodies. Furthermore, the age-related synaptic loss is restricted to calyceal innervations in the utricular extrastriolar region. Hence, our findings suggest that loss of extrastriolar calyceal synapses has a key role in age-related vestibular dysfunction (ARVD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqiang Wan
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lingchao Ji
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Department of Otolaryngology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Thomas Schrepfer
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Sihao Gong
- MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guo-Peng Wang
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Gabriel Corfas
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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22
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Efferent Inputs Are Required for Normal Function of Vestibular Nerve Afferents. J Neurosci 2019; 39:6922-6935. [PMID: 31285300 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0237-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
A group of vestibular afferent nerve fibers with irregular-firing resting discharges are thought to play a prominent role in responses to fast head movements and vestibular plasticity. We show that, in C57BL/6 mice (either sex, 4-5 weeks old), normal activity in the efferent vestibular pathway is required for function of these irregular afferents. Thermal inhibition of efferent fibers results in a profound inhibition of irregular afferents' resting discharges, rendering them inadequate for signaling head movements. In this way, efferent inputs adjust the contribution of the peripheral irregular afferent pathway that plays a critical role in peripheral vestibular signaling and plasticity.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Vestibular end organs in the inner ear receive efferent inputs from the brainstem. Previously, electrical stimulation of efferents was linked to an increase in resting discharges of afferents and a decrease in their sensitivities. Here, we show that localized thermal inhibition of unmyelinated efferents results in a significant decrease in the activity of afferent nerve fibers, particularly those with irregular resting discharges implicated in responses to fast head movements and vestibular compensation. Thus, by upregulating and downregulating of afferent firing, particularly irregular afferents, efferents adjust neural activity sensitive to rapid head movements. These findings support the notion that peripheral vestibular end organs are not passive transducers of head movements and their sensory signal transmission is modulated by efferent inputs.
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23
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Curthoys IS, Grant JW, Pastras CJ, Brown DJ, Burgess AM, Brichta AM, Lim R. A review of mechanical and synaptic processes in otolith transduction of sound and vibration for clinical VEMP testing. J Neurophysiol 2019; 122:259-276. [DOI: 10.1152/jn.00031.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Older studies of mammalian otolith physiology have focused mainly on sustained responses to low-frequency (<50 Hz) or maintained linear acceleration. So the otoliths have been regarded as accelerometers. Thus evidence of otolithic activation and high-precision phase locking to high-frequency sound and vibration appears to be very unusual. However, those results are exactly in accord with a substantial body of knowledge of otolith function in fish and frogs. It is likely that phase locking of otolith afferents to vibration is a general property of all vertebrates. This review examines the literature about the activation and phase locking of single otolithic neurons to air-conducted sound and bone-conducted vibration, in particular the high precision of phase locking shown by mammalian irregular afferents that synapse on striolar type I hair cells by calyx endings. Potassium in the synaptic cleft between the type I hair cell receptor and the calyx afferent ending may be responsible for the tight phase locking of these afferents even at very high discharge rates. Since frogs and fish do not possess full calyx endings, it is unlikely that they show phase locking with such high precision and to such high frequencies as has been found in mammals. The high-frequency responses have been modeled as the otoliths operating in a seismometer mode rather than an accelerometer mode. These high-frequency otolithic responses constitute the neural basis for clinical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential tests of otolith function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian S. Curthoys
- Vestibular Research Laboratory, School of Psychology, the University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - J. Wally Grant
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
| | - Christopher J. Pastras
- The Meniere’s Laboratory, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Daniel J. Brown
- The Meniere’s Laboratory, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ann M. Burgess
- Vestibular Research Laboratory, School of Psychology, the University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alan M. Brichta
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute. Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rebecca Lim
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute. Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
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24
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Holman HA, Poppi LA, Frerck M, Rabbitt RD. Spontaneous and Acetylcholine Evoked Calcium Transients in the Developing Mouse Utricle. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:186. [PMID: 31133810 PMCID: PMC6514437 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous calcium transients are present during early postnatal development in the mouse retina and cochlea, and play an important role in maturation of the sensory organs and neural circuits in the central nervous system (CNS). It is not known whether similar calcium transients occur during postnatal development in the vestibular sensory organs. Here we demonstrate spontaneous intracellular calcium transients in sensory hair cells (HCs) and supporting cells (SCs) in the murine utricular macula during the first two postnatal weeks. Calcium transients were monitored using a genetically encoded calcium indicator, GCaMP5G (G5), at 100 ms-frame−1 in excised utricle sensory epithelia, including HCs, SCs, and neurons. The reporter line expressed G5 and tdTomato (tdT) in a Gad2-Cre dependent manner within a subset of utricular HCs, SCs and neurons. Kinetics of the G5 reporter limited temporal resolution to calcium events lasting longer than 200 ms. Spontaneous calcium transients lasting 1-2 s were observed in the expressing population of HCs at birth and slower spontaneous transients lasting 10-30 s appeared in SCs by P3. Beginning at P5, calcium transients could be modulated by application of the efferent neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). In mature mice, calcium transients in the utricular macula occurred spontaneously, had a duration 1-2 s, and could be modulated by the exogenous application of acetylcholine (ACh) or muscarine. Long-lasting calcium transients evoked by ACh in mature mice were blocked by atropine, consistent with previous reports describing the role of muscarinic receptors expressed in calyx bearing afferents in efferent control of vestibular sensation. Large spontaneous and ACh evoked transients were reversibly blocked by the inositol trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) antagonist aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB). Results demonstrate long-lasting calcium transients are present in the utricular macula during the first postnatal week, and that responses to ACh mature over this same time period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly A Holman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Lauren A Poppi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.,School of Biomedical Science and Pharmacy, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Micah Frerck
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Richard D Rabbitt
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.,Neuroscience Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.,Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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25
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Ogier JM, Burt RA, Drury HR, Lim R, Nayagam BA. Organotypic Culture of Neonatal Murine Inner Ear Explants. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:170. [PMID: 31130846 PMCID: PMC6509234 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The inner ear is a complex organ containing highly specialised cell types and structures that are critical for sensing sound and movement. In vivo, the inner ear is difficult to study due to the osseous nature of the otic capsule and its encapsulation within an intricate bony labyrinth. As such, mammalian inner ear explants are an invaluable tool for the study and manipulation of the complex intercellular connections, structures, and cell types within this specialised organ. The greatest strength of this technique is that the complete organ of Corti, or peripheral vestibular organs including hair cells, supporting cells and accompanying neurons, is maintained in its in situ form. The greatest weakness of in vitro hair cell preparations is the short time frame in which the explanted tissue remains viable. Yet, cochlear explants have proven to be an excellent experimental model for understanding the fundamental aspects of auditory biology, substantiated by their use for over 40 years. In this protocol, we present a modernised inner ear explant technique that employs organotypic cell culture inserts and serum free media. This approach decreases the likelihood of explant damage by eliminating the need for adhesive substances. Serum free media also restricts excessive cellular outgrowth and inter-experimental variability, both of which are side effects of exogenous serum addition to cell cultures. The protocol described can be applied to culture both cochlear and vestibular explants from various mammals. Example outcomes are demonstrated by immunohistochemistry, hair cell quantification, and electrophysiological recordings to validate the versatility and viability of the protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline M. Ogier
- Department of Genetics, The Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Rachel A. Burt
- Department of Genetics, The Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Genetics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Hannah R. Drury
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Rebecca Lim
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Bryony A. Nayagam
- Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- The Bionics Institute, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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26
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Mattei C, Lim R, Drury H, Nasr B, Li Z, Tadros MA, D'Abaco GM, Stok KS, Nayagam BA, Dottori M. Generation of Vestibular Tissue-Like Organoids From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Using the Rotary Cell Culture System. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:25. [PMID: 30891447 PMCID: PMC6413170 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Hair cells are specialized mechanosensitive cells responsible for mediating balance and hearing within the inner ear. In mammals, hair cells are limited in number and do not regenerate. Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) provide a valuable source for deriving human hair cells to study their development and design therapies to treat and/or prevent their degeneration. In this study we used a dynamic 3D Rotary Cell Culture System (RCCS) for deriving inner ear organoids from hPSCs. We show RCCS-derived organoids recapitulate stages of inner ear development and give rise to an enriched population of hair cells displaying vestibular-like morphological and physiological phenotypes, which resemble developing human fetal inner ear hair cells as well as the presence of accessory otoconia-like structures. These results show that hPSC-derived organoids can generate complex inner ear structural features and be a resource to study inner ear development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiana Mattei
- Centre for Neural Engineering, Melbourne School of Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Melbourne School of Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Rebecca Lim
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Hannah Drury
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Babak Nasr
- Centre for Neural Engineering, Melbourne School of Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Melbourne School of Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Zihui Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Melbourne School of Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Melissa A Tadros
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Giovanna M D'Abaco
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Melbourne School of Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Kathryn S Stok
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Melbourne School of Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Bryony A Nayagam
- Departments of Audiology and Speech Pathology and Department of Medical Bionics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mirella Dottori
- Centre for Neural Engineering, Melbourne School of Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Melbourne School of Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
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27
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Rabbitt RD. Semicircular canal biomechanics in health and disease. J Neurophysiol 2019; 121:732-755. [PMID: 30565972 PMCID: PMC6520623 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00708.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The semicircular canals are responsible for sensing angular head motion in three-dimensional space and for providing neural inputs to the central nervous system (CNS) essential for agile mobility, stable vision, and autonomic control of the cardiovascular and other gravity-sensitive systems. Sensation relies on fluid mechanics within the labyrinth to selectively convert angular head acceleration into sensory hair bundle displacements in each of three inner ear sensory organs. Canal afferent neurons encode the direction and time course of head movements over a broad range of movement frequencies and amplitudes. Disorders altering canal mechanics result in pathological inputs to the CNS, often leading to debilitating symptoms. Vestibular disorders and conditions with mechanical substrates include benign paroxysmal positional nystagmus, direction-changing positional nystagmus, alcohol positional nystagmus, caloric nystagmus, Tullio phenomena, and others. Here, the mechanics of angular motion transduction and how it contributes to neural encoding by the semicircular canals is reviewed in both health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. D. Rabbitt
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Otolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Neuroscience Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
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28
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Curthoys I, Burgess AM, Goonetilleke SC. Phase-locking of irregular guinea pig primary vestibular afferents to high frequency (>250 Hz) sound and vibration. Hear Res 2019; 373:59-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2018.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Revised: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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29
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Eatock RA. Specializations for Fast Signaling in the Amniote Vestibular Inner Ear. Integr Comp Biol 2019; 58:341-350. [PMID: 29920589 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icy069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
During rapid locomotion, the vestibular inner ear provides head-motion signals that stabilize posture, gaze, and heading. Afferent nerve fibers from central and peripheral zones of vestibular sensory epithelia use temporal and rate encoding, respectively, to emphasize different aspects of head motion: central afferents adapt faster to sustained head position and favor higher stimulus frequencies, reflecting specializations at each stage from motion of the accessory structure to spike propagation to the brain. One specialization in amniotes is an unusual nonquantal synaptic mechanism by which type I hair cells transmit to large calyceal terminals of afferent neurons. The reduced synaptic delay of this mechanism may have evolved to serve reliable and fast input to reflex pathways that ensure stable locomotion on land.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Anne Eatock
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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30
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McInturff S, Burns JC, Kelley MW. Characterization of spatial and temporal development of Type I and Type II hair cells in the mouse utricle using new cell-type-specific markers. Biol Open 2018; 7:bio038083. [PMID: 30455179 PMCID: PMC6262869 DOI: 10.1242/bio.038083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The utricle of the inner ear, a vestibular sensory structure that mediates perception of linear acceleration, is comprised of two morphologically and physiologically distinct types of mechanosensory hair cells, referred to as Type Is and Type IIs. While these cell types are easily discriminated in an adult utricle, understanding their development has been hampered by a lack of molecular markers that can be used to identify each cell type prior to maturity. Therefore, we collected single hair cells at three different ages and used single cell RNAseq to characterize the transcriptomes of those cells. Analysis of differential gene expression identified Spp1 as a specific marker for Type I hair cells and Mapt and Anxa4 as specific markers for Type II hair cells. Antibody labeling confirmed the specificity of these markers which were then used to examine the temporal and spatial development of utricular hair cells. While Type I hair cells develop in a gradient that extends across the utricle from posterior-medial to anterior-lateral, Type II hair cells initially develop in the central striolar region and then extend uniformly towards the periphery. Finally, by combining these markers with genetic fate mapping, we demonstrate that over 98% of all Type I hair cells develop prior to birth while over 98% of Type II hair cells develop post-natally. These results are consistent with previous findings suggesting that Type I hair cells develop first and refute the hypothesis that Type II hair cells represent a transitional form between immature and Type I hair cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen McInturff
- Laboratory of Cochlear Development, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Joseph C Burns
- Laboratory of Cochlear Development, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Matthew W Kelley
- Laboratory of Cochlear Development, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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31
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Calyx junction dismantlement and synaptic uncoupling precede hair cell extrusion in the vestibular sensory epithelium during sub-chronic 3,3'-iminodipropionitrile ototoxicity in the mouse. Arch Toxicol 2018; 93:417-434. [PMID: 30377733 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-018-2339-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The cellular and molecular events that precede hair cell (HC) loss in the vestibular epithelium during chronic ototoxic exposure have not been widely studied. To select a study model, we compared the effects of sub-chronic exposure to different concentrations of 3,3'-iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) in the drinking water of two strains of mice and of both sexes. In subsequent experiments, male 129S1/SvImJ mice were exposed to 30 mM IDPN for 5 or 8 weeks; animals were euthanized at the end of the exposure or after a washout period of 13 weeks. In behavioral tests, IDPN mice showed progressive vestibular dysfunction followed by recovery during washout. In severely affected animals, light and electron microscopy observations of the vestibular epithelia revealed HC extrusion towards the endolymphatic cavity. Comparison of functional and ultrastructural data indicated that animals with fully reversible dysfunction did not have significant HC loss or stereociliary damage, but reversible dismantlement of the calyceal junctions that characterize the contact between type I HCs (HCI) and their calyx afferents. Immunofluorescent analysis revealed the loss of calyx junction proteins, Caspr1 and Tenascin-C, during exposure and their recovery during washout. Synaptic uncoupling was also recorded, with loss of pre-synaptic Ribeye and post-synaptic GluA2 puncta, and differential reversibility among the three different kinds of synaptic contacts existing in the epithelium. qRT-PCR analyses demonstrated that some of these changes are at least in part explained by gene expression modifications. We concluded that calyx junction dismantlement and synaptic uncoupling are early events in the mouse vestibular sensory epithelium during sub-chronic IDPN ototoxicity.
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32
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Parks XX, Contini D, Jordan PM, Holt JC. Confirming a Role for α9nAChRs and SK Potassium Channels in Type II Hair Cells of the Turtle Posterior Crista. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:356. [PMID: 29200999 PMCID: PMC5696599 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In turtle posterior cristae, cholinergic vestibular efferent neurons (VENs) synapse on type II hair cells, bouton afferents innervating type II hair cells, and afferent calyces innervating type I hair cells. Electrical stimulation of VENs releases acetylcholine (ACh) at these synapses to exert diverse effects on afferent background discharge including rapid inhibition of bouton afferents and excitation of calyx-bearing afferents. Efferent-mediated inhibition is most pronounced in bouton afferents innervating type II hair cells near the torus, but becomes progressively smaller and briefer when moving longitudinally through the crista toward afferents innervating the planum. Sharp-electrode recordings have inferred that efferent-mediated inhibition of bouton afferents requires the sequential activation of alpha9-containing nicotinic ACh receptors (α9*nAChRs) and small-conductance, calcium-dependent potassium channels (SK) in type II hair cells. Gradations in the strength of efferent-mediated inhibition across the crista likely reflect variations in α9*nAChRs and/or SK activation in type II hair cells from those different regions. However, in turtle cristae, neither inference has been confirmed with direct recordings from type II hair cells. To address these gaps, we performed whole-cell, patch-clamp recordings from type II hair cells within a split-epithelial preparation of the turtle posterior crista. Here, we can easily visualize and record hair cells while maintaining their native location within the neuroepithelium. Consistent with α9*nAChR/SK activation, ACh-sensitive currents in type II hair cells were inward at hyperpolarizing potentials but reversed near −90 mV to produce outward currents that typically peaked around −20 mV. ACh-sensitive currents were largest in torus hair cells but absent from hair cells near the planum. In current clamp recordings under zero-current conditions, ACh robustly hyperpolarized type II hair cells. ACh-sensitive responses were reversibly blocked by the α9nAChR antagonists ICS, strychnine, and methyllycaconitine as well as the SK antagonists apamin and UCL1684. Intact efferent terminals in the split-epithelial preparation spontaneously released ACh that also activated α9*nAChRs/SK in type II hair cells. These release events were accelerated with high-potassium external solution and all events were blocked by strychnine, ICS, methyllycaconitine, and apamin. These findings provide direct evidence that activation of α9*nAChR/SK in turtle type II hair cells underlies efferent-mediated inhibition of bouton afferents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaorong Xu Parks
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Donatella Contini
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Paivi M Jordan
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Joseph C Holt
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States.,Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
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33
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Spaiardi P, Tavazzani E, Manca M, Milesi V, Russo G, Prigioni I, Marcotti W, Magistretti J, Masetto S. An allosteric gating model recapitulates the biophysical properties of I K,L expressed in mouse vestibular type I hair cells. J Physiol 2017; 595:6735-6750. [PMID: 28862328 PMCID: PMC5663832 DOI: 10.1113/jp274202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Key points Vestibular type I and type II hair cells and their afferent fibres send information to the brain regarding the position and movement of the head. The characteristic feature of type I hair cells is the expression of a low‐voltage‐activated outward rectifying K+ current, IK,L, whose biophysical properties and molecular identity are still largely unknown. In vitro, the afferent nerve calyx surrounding type I hair cells causes unstable intercellular K+ concentrations, altering the biophysical properties of IK,L. We found that in the absence of the calyx, IK,L in type I hair cells exhibited unique biophysical activation properties, which were faithfully reproduced by an allosteric channel gating scheme. These results form the basis for a molecular and pharmacological identification of IK,L.
Abstract Type I and type II hair cells are the sensory receptors of the mammalian vestibular epithelia. Type I hair cells are characterized by their basolateral membrane being enveloped in a single large afferent nerve terminal, named the calyx, and by the expression of a low‐voltage‐activated outward rectifying K+ current, IK,L. The biophysical properties and molecular profile of IK,L are still largely unknown. By using the patch‐clamp whole‐cell technique, we examined the voltage‐ and time‐dependent properties of IK,L in type I hair cells of the mouse semicircular canal. We found that the biophysical properties of IK,L were affected by an unstable K+ equilibrium potential (VeqK+). Both the outward and inward K+ currents shifted VeqK+ consistent with K+ accumulation or depletion, respectively, in the extracellular space, which we attributed to a residual calyx attached to the basolateral membrane of the hair cells. We therefore optimized the hair cell dissociation protocol in order to isolate mature type I hair cells without their calyx. In these cells, the uncontaminated IK,L showed a half‐activation at –79.6 mV and a steep voltage dependence (2.8 mV). IK,L also showed complex activation and deactivation kinetics, which we faithfully reproduced by an allosteric channel gating scheme where the channel is able to open from all (five) closed states. The ‘early’ open states substantially contribute to IK,L activation at negative voltages. This study provides the first complete description of the ‘native’ biophysical properties of IK,L in adult mouse vestibular type I hair cells. Vestibular type I and type II hair cells and their afferent fibres send information to the brain regarding the position and movement of the head. The characteristic feature of type I hair cells is the expression of a low‐voltage‐activated outward rectifying K+ current, IK,L, whose biophysical properties and molecular identity are still largely unknown. In vitro, the afferent nerve calyx surrounding type I hair cells causes unstable intercellular K+ concentrations, altering the biophysical properties of IK,L. We found that in the absence of the calyx, IK,L in type I hair cells exhibited unique biophysical activation properties, which were faithfully reproduced by an allosteric channel gating scheme. These results form the basis for a molecular and pharmacological identification of IK,L.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Spaiardi
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Elisa Tavazzani
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Marco Manca
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Veronica Milesi
- Instituto de Estudios Inmunológios y Fisiopatológicos (IIFP) - CONICET, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, 1900, Argentina
| | - Giancarlo Russo
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Ivo Prigioni
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Walter Marcotti
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Jacopo Magistretti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Sergio Masetto
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, 27100, Italy
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34
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Poppi LA, Tabatabaee H, Drury HR, Jobling P, Callister RJ, Migliaccio AA, Jordan PM, Holt JC, Rabbitt RD, Lim R, Brichta AM. ACh-induced hyperpolarization and decreased resistance in mammalian type II vestibular hair cells. J Neurophysiol 2017; 119:312-325. [PMID: 28978760 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00030.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In the mammalian vestibular periphery, electrical activation of the efferent vestibular system (EVS) has two effects on afferent activity: 1) it increases background afferent discharge and 2) decreases afferent sensitivity to rotational stimuli. Although the cellular mechanisms underlying these two contrasting afferent responses remain obscure, we postulated that the reduction in afferent sensitivity was attributed, in part, to the activation of α9- containing nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors (α9*nAChRs) and small-conductance potassium channels (SK) in vestibular type II hair cells, as demonstrated in the peripheral vestibular system of other vertebrates. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effects of the predominant EVS neurotransmitter ACh on vestibular type II hair cells from wild-type (wt) and α9-subunit nAChR knockout (α9-/-) mice. Immunostaining for choline acetyltransferase revealed there were no obvious gross morphological differences in the peripheral EVS innervation among any of these strains. ACh application onto wt type II hair cells, at resting potentials, produced a fast inward current followed by a slower outward current, resulting in membrane hyperpolarization and decreased membrane resistance. Hyperpolarization and decreased resistance were due to gating of SK channels. Consistent with activation of α9*nAChRs and SK channels, these ACh-sensitive currents were antagonized by the α9*nAChR blocker strychnine and SK blockers apamin and tamapin. Type II hair cells from α9-/- mice, however, failed to respond to ACh at all. These results confirm the critical importance of α9nAChRs in efferent modulation of mammalian type II vestibular hair cells. Application of exogenous ACh reduces electrical impedance, thereby decreasing type II hair cell sensitivity. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Expression of α9 nicotinic subunit was crucial for fast cholinergic modulation of mammalian vestibular type II hair cells. These findings show a multifaceted efferent mechanism for altering hair cell membrane potential and decreasing membrane resistance that should reduce sensitivity to hair bundle displacements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A Poppi
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute , Newcastle, New South Wales , Australia
| | - Hessam Tabatabaee
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute , Newcastle, New South Wales , Australia
| | - Hannah R Drury
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute , Newcastle, New South Wales , Australia
| | - Phillip Jobling
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute , Newcastle, New South Wales , Australia
| | - Robert J Callister
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute , Newcastle, New South Wales , Australia
| | | | - Paivi M Jordan
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Rochester , Rochester, New York
| | - Joseph C Holt
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Rochester , Rochester, New York
| | - Richard D Rabbitt
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Rebecca Lim
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute , Newcastle, New South Wales , Australia
| | - Alan M Brichta
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute , Newcastle, New South Wales , Australia
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Kirk ME, Meredith FL, Benke TA, Rennie KJ. AMPA receptor-mediated rapid EPSCs in vestibular calyx afferents. J Neurophysiol 2017; 117:2312-2323. [PMID: 28298303 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00394.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Revised: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
In the vestibular periphery neurotransmission between hair cells and primary afferent nerves occurs via specialized ribbon synapses. Type I vestibular hair cells (HCIs) make synaptic contacts with calyx terminals, which enclose most of the HCI basolateral surface. To probe synaptic transmission, whole cell patch-clamp recordings were made from calyx afferent terminals isolated together with their mature HCIs from gerbil crista. Neurotransmitter release was measured as excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in voltage clamp. Spontaneous EPSCs were classified as simple or complex. Simple events exhibited a rapid rise time and a fast monoexponential decay (time constant < 1 ms). The remaining events, constituting ~40% of EPSCs, showed more complex characteristics. Extracellular Sr2+ greatly increased EPSC frequency, and EPSCs were blocked by the AMPA receptor blocker NBQX. The role of presynaptic Ca2+ channels was assessed by application of the L-type Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine (20 µM), which reduced EPSC frequency. In contrast, the L-type Ca2+ channel opener BAY K 8644 increased EPSC frequency. Cyclothiazide increased the decay time constant of averaged simple EPSCs by approximately twofold. The low-affinity AMPA receptor antagonist γ-d-glutamylglycine (2 mM) reduced the proportion of simple EPSCs relative to complex events, indicating glutamate accumulation in the restricted cleft between HCI and calyx. In crista slices EPSC frequency was greater in central compared with peripheral calyces, which may be due to greater numbers of presynaptic ribbons in central hair cells. Our data support a role for L-type Ca2+ channels in spontaneous release and demonstrate regional variations in AMPA-mediated quantal transmission at the calyx synapse.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In vestibular calyx terminals of mature cristae we find that the majority of excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) are rapid monophasic events mediated by AMPA receptors. Spontaneous EPSCs are reduced by an L-type Ca2+ channel blocker and notably enhanced in extracellular Sr2+ EPSC frequency is greater in central areas of the crista compared with peripheral areas and may be associated with more numerous presynaptic ribbons in central hair cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E Kirk
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Frances L Meredith
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Timothy A Benke
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.,Departments of Pediatrics, Neurology, and Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Katherine J Rennie
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado; .,Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado; and
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Holmes WR, Huwe JA, Williams B, Rowe MH, Peterson EH. Models of utricular bouton afferents: role of afferent-hair cell connectivity in determining spike train regularity. J Neurophysiol 2017; 117:1969-1986. [PMID: 28202575 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00895.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Vestibular bouton afferent terminals in turtle utricle can be categorized into four types depending on their location and terminal arbor structure: lateral extrastriolar (LES), striolar, juxtastriolar, and medial extrastriolar (MES). The terminal arbors of these afferents differ in surface area, total length, collecting area, number of boutons, number of bouton contacts per hair cell, and axon diameter (Huwe JA, Logan CJ, Williams B, Rowe MH, Peterson EH. J Neurophysiol 113: 2420-2433, 2015). To understand how differences in terminal morphology and the resulting hair cell inputs might affect afferent response properties, we modeled representative afferents from each region, using reconstructed bouton afferents. Collecting area and hair cell density were used to estimate hair cell-to-afferent convergence. Nonmorphological features were held constant to isolate effects of afferent structure and connectivity. The models suggest that all four bouton afferent types are electrotonically compact and that excitatory postsynaptic potentials are two to four times larger in MES afferents than in other afferents, making MES afferents more responsive to low input levels. The models also predict that MES and LES terminal structures permit higher spontaneous firing rates than those in striola and juxtastriola. We found that differences in spike train regularity are not a consequence of differences in peripheral terminal structure, per se, but that a higher proportion of multiple contacts between afferents and individual hair cells increases afferent firing irregularity. The prediction that afferents having primarily one bouton contact per hair cell will fire more regularly than afferents making multiple bouton contacts per hair cell has implications for spike train regularity in dimorphic and calyx afferents.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Bouton afferents in different regions of turtle utricle have very different morphologies and afferent-hair cell connectivities. Highly detailed computational modeling provides insights into how morphology impacts excitability and also reveals a new explanation for spike train irregularity based on relative numbers of multiple bouton contacts per hair cell. This mechanism is independent of other proposed mechanisms for spike train irregularity based on ionic conductances and can explain irregularity in dimorphic units and calyx endings.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Holmes
- Department of Biological Sciences and Neuroscience Program, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
| | - Janice A Huwe
- Department of Biological Sciences and Neuroscience Program, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
| | - Barbara Williams
- Department of Biological Sciences and Neuroscience Program, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
| | - Michael H Rowe
- Department of Biological Sciences and Neuroscience Program, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
| | - Ellengene H Peterson
- Department of Biological Sciences and Neuroscience Program, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
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Contini D, Price SD, Art JJ. Accumulation of K + in the synaptic cleft modulates activity by influencing both vestibular hair cell and calyx afferent in the turtle. J Physiol 2016; 595:777-803. [PMID: 27633787 DOI: 10.1113/jp273060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2016] [Accepted: 09/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS In the synaptic cleft between type I hair cells and calyceal afferents, K+ ions accumulate as a function of activity, dynamically altering the driving force and permeation through ion channels facing the synaptic cleft. High-fidelity synaptic transmission is possible due to large conductances that minimize hair cell and afferent time constants in the presence of significant membrane capacitance. Elevated potassium maintains hair cells near a potential where transduction currents are sufficient to depolarize them to voltages necessary for calcium influx and synaptic vesicle fusion. Elevated potassium depolarizes the postsynaptic afferent by altering ion permeation through hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels, and contributes to depolarizing the afferent to potentials where a single EPSP (quantum) can generate an action potential. With increased stimulation, hair cell depolarization increases the frequency of quanta released, elevates [K+ ]cleft and depolarizes the afferent to potentials at which smaller and smaller EPSPs would be sufficient to trigger APs. ABSTRACT Fast neurotransmitters act in conjunction with slower modulatory effectors that accumulate in restricted synaptic spaces found at giant synapses such as the calyceal endings in the auditory and vestibular systems. Here, we used dual patch-clamp recordings from turtle vestibular hair cells and their afferent neurons to show that potassium ions accumulating in the synaptic cleft modulated membrane potentials and extended the range of information transfer. High-fidelity synaptic transmission was possible due to large conductances that minimized hair cell and afferent time constants in the presence of significant membrane capacitance. Increased potassium concentration in the cleft maintained the hair cell near potentials that promoted the influx of calcium necessary for synaptic vesicle fusion. The elevated potassium concentration also depolarized the postsynaptic neuron by altering ion permeation through hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels. This depolarization enabled the afferent to reliably generate action potentials evoked by single AMPA-dependent EPSPs. Depolarization of the postsynaptic afferent could also elevate potassium in the synaptic cleft, and would depolarize other hair cells enveloped by the same neuritic process increasing the fidelity of neurotransmission at those synapses as well. Collectively, these data demonstrate that neuronal activity gives rise to potassium accumulation, and suggest that potassium ion action on HCN channels can modulate neurotransmission, preserving the fidelity of high-speed synaptic transmission by dynamically shifting the resting potentials of both presynaptic and postsynaptic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Contini
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Steven D Price
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Jonathan J Art
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
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Channeling your inner ear potassium: K+ channels in vestibular hair cells. Hear Res 2016; 338:40-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2016.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Revised: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Rabbitt RD, Brichta AM, Tabatabaee H, Boutros PJ, Ahn J, Della Santina CC, Poppi LA, Lim R. Heat pulse excitability of vestibular hair cells and afferent neurons. J Neurophysiol 2016; 116:825-43. [PMID: 27226448 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00110.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study we combined electrophysiology with optical heat pulse stimuli to examine thermodynamics of membrane electrical excitability in mammalian vestibular hair cells and afferent neurons. We recorded whole cell currents in mammalian type II vestibular hair cells using an excised preparation (mouse) and action potentials (APs) in afferent neurons in vivo (chinchilla) in response to optical heat pulses applied to the crista (ΔT ≈ 0.25°C per pulse). Afferent spike trains evoked by heat pulse stimuli were diverse and included asynchronous inhibition, asynchronous excitation, and/or phase-locked APs synchronized to each infrared heat pulse. Thermal responses of membrane currents responsible for APs in ganglion neurons were strictly excitatory, with Q10 ≈ 2. In contrast, hair cells responded with a mix of excitatory and inhibitory currents. Excitatory hair cell membrane currents included a thermoelectric capacitive current proportional to the rate of temperature rise (dT/dt) and an inward conduction current driven by ΔT An iberiotoxin-sensitive inhibitory conduction current was also evoked by ΔT, rising in <3 ms and decaying with a time constant of ∼24 ms. The inhibitory component dominated whole cell currents in 50% of hair cells at -68 mV and in 67% of hair cells at -60 mV. Responses were quantified and described on the basis of first principles of thermodynamics. Results identify key molecular targets underlying heat pulse excitability in vestibular sensory organs and provide quantitative methods for rational application of optical heat pulses to examine protein biophysics and manipulate cellular excitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard D Rabbitt
- Departments of Bioengineering and Otolaryngology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah;
| | - Alan M Brichta
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia; and
| | - Hessam Tabatabaee
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia; and
| | - Peter J Boutros
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - JoongHo Ahn
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Charles C Della Santina
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Lauren A Poppi
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia; and
| | - Rebecca Lim
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia; and
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Lee MY, Takada T, Takada Y, Kappy MD, Beyer LA, Swiderski DL, Godin AL, Brewer S, King WM, Raphael Y. Mice with conditional deletion of Cx26 exhibit no vestibular phenotype despite secondary loss of Cx30 in the vestibular end organs. Hear Res 2015; 328:102-12. [PMID: 26232528 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2015.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2015] [Revised: 07/22/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Connexins are components of gap junctions which facilitate transfer of small molecules between cells. One member of the connexin family, Connexin 26 (Cx26), is prevalent in gap junctions in sensory epithelia of the inner ear. Mutations of GJB2, the gene encoding Cx26, cause significant hearing loss in humans. The vestibular system, however, does not usually show significant functional deficits in humans with this mutation. Mouse models for loss of Cx26 function demonstrate hearing loss and cochlear pathology but the extent of vestibular dysfunction and organ pathology are less well characterized. To understand the vestibular effects of Cx26 mutations, we evaluated vestibular function and histology of the vestibular sensory epithelia in a conditional knockout (CKO) mouse with Cx26 loss of function. Transgenic C57BL/6 mice, in which cre-Sox10 drives excision of the Cx26 gene from non-sensory cells flanking the sensory epithelium of the inner ear (Gjb2-CKO), were compared to age-matched wild types. Animals were sacrificed at ages between 4 and 40 weeks and their cochlear and vestibular sensory organs harvested for histological examination. Cx26 immunoreactivity was prominent in the peripheral vestibular system and the cochlea of wild type mice, but absent in the Gjb2-CKO specimens. The hair cell population in the cochleae of the Gjb2-CKO mice was severely depleted but in the vestibular organs it was intact, despite absence of Cx26 expression. The vestibular organs appeared normal at the latest time point examined, 40 weeks. To determine whether compensation by another connexin explains survival of the normal vestibular sensory epithelium, we evaluated the presence of Cx30 in the Gjb2-CKO mouse. We found that Cx30 labeling was normal in the cochlea, but it was decreased or absent in the vestibular system. The vestibular phenotype of the mutants was not different from wild-types as determined by time on the rotarod, head stability tests and physiological responses to vestibular stimulation. Thus presence of Cx30 in the cochlea does not compensate for Cx26 loss, and the absence of both connexins from vestibular sensory epithelia is no more injurious than the absence of one of them. Further studies to uncover the physiological foundation for this difference between the cochlea and the vestibular organs may help in designing treatments for GJB2 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Young Lee
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, 1150 West. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5648, USA
| | - Tomoko Takada
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, 1150 West. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5648, USA
| | - Yohei Takada
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, 1150 West. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5648, USA
| | - Michelle D Kappy
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, 1150 West. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5648, USA
| | - Lisa A Beyer
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, 1150 West. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5648, USA
| | - Donald L Swiderski
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, 1150 West. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5648, USA
| | - Ashley L Godin
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, 1150 West. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5648, USA
| | - Shannon Brewer
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, 1150 West. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5648, USA
| | - W Michael King
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, 1150 West. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5648, USA
| | - Yehoash Raphael
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, 1150 West. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5648, USA.
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Highstein SM, Mann MA, Holstein GR, Rabbitt RD. The quantal component of synaptic transmission from sensory hair cells to the vestibular calyx. J Neurophysiol 2015; 113:3827-35. [PMID: 25878150 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00055.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Accepted: 04/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous and stimulus-evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) were recorded in calyx nerve terminals from the turtle vestibular lagena to quantify key attributes of quantal transmission at this synapse. On average, EPSC events had a magnitude of ∼ 42 pA, a rise time constant of τ(0) ∼ 229 μs, decayed to baseline with a time constant of τ(R) ∼ 690 μs, and carried ∼ 46 fC of charge. Individual EPSCs varied in magnitude and decay time constant. Variability in the EPSC decay time constant was hair cell dependent and due in part to a slow protraction of the EPSC in some cases. Variability in EPSC size was well described by an integer summation of unitary quanta, with each quanta of glutamate gating a unitary postsynaptic current of ∼ 23 pA. The unitary charge was ∼ 26 fC for EPSCs with a simple exponential decay and increased to ∼ 48 fC for EPSCs exhibiting a slow protraction. The EPSC magnitude and the number of simultaneous unitary quanta within each event increased with presynaptic stimulus intensity. During tonic hair cell depolarization, both the EPSC magnitude and event rate exhibited adaptive run down over time. Present data from a reptilian calyx are remarkably similar to noncalyceal vestibular synaptic terminals in diverse species, indicating that the skewed EPSC size distribution and multiquantal release might be an ancestral property of inner ear ribbon synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gay R Holstein
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; and
| | - Richard D Rabbitt
- Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts; University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
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Lithgow BJ, Shoushtarian M. Parkinson's disease: disturbed vestibular function and levodopa. J Neurol Sci 2015; 353:49-58. [PMID: 25899315 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2015.03.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2014] [Revised: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Evidence indicates Levodopa effects central postural control. As electrophysiological postural control biomarkers, sensory oto-acoustic features were extracted from Electrovestibulography (EVestG) data to identify 20 healthy age and gender matched individuals as Controls from 20 PD subjects before (PDlowmed) and 18 after (PDmed) morning doses of Levodopa. EVestG data was collected using a single tilt stimulus applied in the pitch plane. The extracted features were based on the measured firing pattern, interval histogram and the shape of the average field potential response. An unbiased cross validated classification accuracy of 88%, 88% and 79% was achieved using combinations of 2 features for separating PDlowmed from control, control from PD (combined PDlowmed and PDmed), and PDlowmed from PDmed groups respectively. One feature showed significant correlations (p<0.05) with the Modified Hoehn and Yahr PD staging scale. The results indicate disturbed vestibular function is observed in both the PDmed and PDlowmed conditions, and these are separable. The implication is that Levodopa may also affect peripheral as well as central postural control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Lithgow
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Monash University Central Clinical School and the Alfred Hospital, 4th Floor, 607St Kilda Rd, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3004; Diagnostic and Neurosignal Processing Research Laboratory, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, Victoria, Australia 3180; Diagnostic and Neurosignal Processing Research Laboratory, University of Manitoba, Riverview Health Centre, 1 Morley St, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3L 2P4.
| | - Mehrnaz Shoushtarian
- Diagnostic and Neurosignal Processing Research Laboratory, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, Victoria, Australia 3180.
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Abstract
In the vestibular periphery a unique postsynaptic terminal, the calyx, completely covers the basolateral walls of type I hair cells and receives input from multiple ribbon synapses. To date, the functional role of this specialized synapse remains elusive. There is limited data supporting glutamatergic transmission, K(+) or H(+) accumulation in the synaptic cleft as mechanisms of transmission. Here the role of glutamatergic transmission at the calyx synapse is investigated. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from calyx endings were performed in an in vitro whole-tissue preparation of the rat vestibular crista, the sensory organ of the semicircular canals that sense head rotation. AMPA-mediated EPSCs showed an unusually wide range of decay time constants, from <5 to >500 ms. Decay time constants of EPSCs increased (or decreased) in the presence of a glutamate transporter blocker (or a competitive glutamate receptor blocker), suggesting a role for glutamate accumulation and spillover in synaptic transmission. Glutamate accumulation caused slow depolarizations of the postsynaptic membrane potentials, and thereby substantially increased calyx firing rates. Finally, antibody labelings showed that a high percentage of presynaptic ribbon release sites and postsynaptic glutamate receptors were not juxtaposed, favoring a role for spillover. These findings suggest a prominent role for glutamate spillover in integration of inputs and synaptic transmission in the vestibular periphery. We propose that similar to other brain areas, such as the cerebellum and hippocampus, glutamate spillover may play a role in gain control of calyx afferents and contribute to their high-pass properties.
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Meredith FL, Rennie KJ. Zonal variations in K+ currents in vestibular crista calyx terminals. J Neurophysiol 2014; 113:264-76. [PMID: 25343781 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00399.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
We developed a rodent crista slice to investigate regional variations in electrophysiological properties of vestibular afferent terminals. Thin transverse slices of the gerbil crista ampullaris were made and electrical properties of calyx terminals in central zones (CZ) and peripheral zones (PZ) compared with whole cell patch clamp. Spontaneous action potential firing was observed in 25% of current-clamp recordings and was either regular or irregular in both zones. Firing was abolished when extracellular choline replaced Na(+) but persisted when hair cell mechanotransduction channels or calyx AMPA receptors were blocked. This suggests that ion channels intrinsic to the calyx can generate spontaneous firing. In response to depolarizing voltage steps, outward K(+) currents were observed at potentials above -60 mV. K(+) currents in PZ calyces showed significantly more inactivation than currents in CZ calyces. Underlying K(+) channel populations contributing to these differences were investigated. The KCNQ channel blocker XE991 dihydrochloride blocked a slowly activating, sustained outward current in both PZ and CZ calyces, indicating the presence of KCNQ channels. Mean reduction was greatest in PZ calyces. XE991 also reduced action potential firing frequency in CZ and PZ calyces and broadened mean action potential width. The K(+) channel blocker 4-aminopyridine (10-50 μM) blocked rapidly activating, moderately inactivating currents that were more prevalent in PZ calyces. α-Dendrotoxin, a selective blocker of KV1 channels, reduced outward currents in CZ calyces but not in PZ calyces. Regional variations in K(+) conductances may contribute to different firing responses in calyx afferents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances L Meredith
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado; and
| | - Katherine J Rennie
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado; and Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
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Schuth O, McLean WJ, Eatock RA, Pyott SJ. Distribution of Na,K-ATPase α subunits in rat vestibular sensory epithelia. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 2014; 15:739-54. [PMID: 25091536 DOI: 10.1007/s10162-014-0479-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Accepted: 07/01/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The afferent encoding of vestibular stimuli depends on molecular mechanisms that regulate membrane potential, concentration gradients, and ion and neurotransmitter clearance at both afferent and efferent relays. In many cell types, the Na,K-ATPase (NKA) is essential for establishing hyperpolarized membrane potentials and mediating both primary and secondary active transport required for ion and neurotransmitter clearance. In vestibular sensory epithelia, a calyx nerve ending envelopes each type I hair cell, isolating it over most of its surface from support cells and posing special challenges for ion and neurotransmitter clearance. We used immunofluorescence and high-resolution confocal microscopy to examine the cellular and subcellular patterns of NKAα subunit expression within the sensory epithelia of semicircular canals as well as an otolith organ (the utricle). Results were similar for both kinds of vestibular organ. The neuronal NKAα3 subunit was detected in all afferent endings-both the calyx afferent endings on type I hair cells and bouton afferent endings on type II hair cells-but was not detected in efferent terminals. In contrast to previous results in the cochlea, the NKAα1 subunit was detected in hair cells (both type I and type II) but not in supporting cells. The expression of distinct NKAα subunits by vestibular hair cells and their afferent endings may be needed to support and shape the high rates of glutamatergic neurotransmission and spike initiation at the unusual type I-calyx synapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Schuth
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, NC, 28403, USA
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Lim R, Drury HR, Camp AJ, Tadros MA, Callister RJ, Brichta AM. Preliminary characterization of voltage-activated whole-cell currents in developing human vestibular hair cells and calyx afferent terminals. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 2014; 15:755-66. [PMID: 24942706 PMCID: PMC4164689 DOI: 10.1007/s10162-014-0471-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
We present preliminary functional data from human vestibular hair cells and primary afferent calyx terminals during fetal development. Whole-cell recordings were obtained from hair cells or calyx terminals in semi-intact cristae prepared from human fetuses aged between 11 and 18 weeks gestation (WG). During early fetal development (11–14 WG), hair cells expressed whole-cell conductances that were qualitatively similar but quantitatively smaller than those observed previously in mature rodent type II hair cells. As development progressed (15–18 WG), peak outward conductances increased in putative type II hair cells but did not reach amplitudes observed in adult human hair cells. Type I hair cells express a specific low-voltage activating conductance, GK,L. A similar current was first observed at 15 WG but remained relatively small, even at 18 WG. The presence of a “collapsing” tail current indicates a maturing type I hair cell phenotype and suggests the presence of a surrounding calyx afferent terminal. We were also able to record from calyx afferent terminals in 15–18 WG cristae. In voltage clamp, these terminals exhibited fast inactivating inward as well as slower outward conductances, and in current clamp, discharged a single action potential during depolarizing steps. Together, these data suggest the major functional characteristics of type I and type II hair cells and calyx terminals are present by 18 WG. Our study also describes a new preparation for the functional investigation of key events that occur during maturation of human vestibular organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Lim
- The School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia,
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Horwitz GC, Risner-Janiczek JR, Holt JR. Mechanotransduction and hyperpolarization-activated currents contribute to spontaneous activity in mouse vestibular ganglion neurons. J Gen Physiol 2014; 143:481-97. [PMID: 24638995 PMCID: PMC3971655 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201311126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2013] [Accepted: 02/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide-sensitive current, Ih, is present in vestibular hair cells and vestibular ganglion neurons, and is required for normal balance function. We sought to identify the molecular correlates and functional relevance of Ih in vestibular ganglion neurons. Ih is carried by channels consisting of homo- or heteromeric assemblies of four protein subunits from the Hcn gene family. The relative expression of Hcn1-4 mRNA was examined using a quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) screen. Hcn2 was the most highly expressed subunit in vestibular neuron cell bodies. Immunolocalization of HCN2 revealed robust expression in cell bodies of all vestibular ganglion neurons. To characterize Ih in vestibular neuron cell bodies and at hair cell-afferent synapses, we developed an intact, ex vivo preparation. We found robust physiological expression of Ih in 89% of cell bodies and 100% of calyx terminals. Ih was significantly larger in calyx terminals than in cell bodies; however, other biophysical characteristics were similar. Ih was absent in calyces lacking Hcn1 and Hcn2, but small Ih was still present in cell bodies, which suggests expression of an additional subunit, perhaps Hcn4. To determine the contributions of hair cell mechanotransduction and Ih to the firing patterns of calyx terminals, we recorded action potentials in current-clamp mode. Mechanotransduction currents were modulated by hair bundle defection and application of calcium chelators to disrupt tip links. Ih activity was modulated using ZD7288 and cAMP. We found that both hair cell transduction and Ih contribute to the rate and regularity of spontaneous action potentials in the vestibular afferent neurons. We propose that modulation of Ih in vestibular ganglion neurons may provide a mechanism for modulation of spontaneous activity in the vestibular periphery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey C. Horwitz
- Department of Otolaryngology and F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Neuroscience and Otolaryngology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | - Jessica R. Risner-Janiczek
- Department of Neuroscience and Otolaryngology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | - Jeffrey R. Holt
- Department of Otolaryngology and F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
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Evidence that protons act as neurotransmitters at vestibular hair cell-calyx afferent synapses. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:5421-6. [PMID: 24706862 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1319561111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Present data support the conclusion that protons serve as an important neurotransmitter to convey excitatory stimuli from inner ear type I vestibular hair cells to postsynaptic calyx nerve terminals. Time-resolved pH imaging revealed stimulus-evoked extrusion of protons from hair cells and a subsequent buildup of [H(+)] within the confined chalice-shaped synaptic cleft (ΔpH ∼ -0.2). Whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings revealed a concomitant nonquantal excitatory postsynaptic current in the calyx terminal that was causally modulated by cleft acidification. The time course of [H(+)] buildup limits the speed of this intercellular signaling mechanism, but for tonic signals such as gravity, protonergic transmission offers a significant metabolic advantage over quantal excitatory postsynaptic currents--an advantage that may have driven the proliferation of postsynaptic calyx terminals in the inner ear vestibular organs of contemporary amniotes.
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Goldberg JM, Holt JC. Discharge regularity in the turtle posterior crista: comparisons between experiment and theory. J Neurophysiol 2013; 110:2830-48. [PMID: 24004525 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00195.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Intra-axonal recordings were made from bouton fibers near their termination in the turtle posterior crista. Spike discharge, miniature excitatory postsynaptic potentials (mEPSPs), and afterhyperpolarizations (AHPs) were monitored during resting activity in both regularly and irregularly discharging units. Quantal size (qsize) and quantal rate (qrate) were estimated by shot-noise theory. Theoretically, the ratio, σV/(dμV/dt), between synaptic noise (σV) and the slope of the mean voltage trajectory (dμV/dt) near threshold crossing should determine discharge regularity. AHPs are deeper and more prolonged in regular units; as a result, dμV/dt is larger, the more regular the discharge. The qsize is larger and qrate smaller in irregular units; these oppositely directed trends lead to little variation in σV with discharge regularity. Of the two variables, dμV/dt is much more influential than the nearly constant σV in determining regularity. Sinusoidal canal-duct indentations at 0.3 Hz led to modulations in spike discharge and synaptic voltage. Gain, the ratio between the amplitudes of the two modulations, and phase leads re indentation of both modulations are larger in irregular units. Gain variations parallel the sensitivity of the postsynaptic spike encoder, the set of conductances that converts synaptic input into spike discharge. Phase variations reflect both synaptic inputs to the encoder and postsynaptic processes. Experimental data were interpreted using a stochastic integrate-and-fire model. Advantages of an irregular discharge include an enhanced encoder gain and the prevention of nonlinear phase locking. Regular and irregular units are more efficient, respectively, in the encoding of low- and high-frequency head rotations, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay M Goldberg
- Department of Pharmacological and Physiological Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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Tung VWK, Di Marco S, Lim R, Brichta AM, Camp AJ. An isolated semi-intact preparation of the mouse vestibular sensory epithelium for electrophysiology and high-resolution two-photon microscopy. J Vis Exp 2013:e50471. [PMID: 23793222 DOI: 10.3791/50471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding vestibular hair cells function under normal conditions, or how trauma, disease, and aging disrupt this function is a vital step in the development of preventative approaches and/or novel therapeutic strategies. However, the majority of studies looking at abnormal vestibular function have not been at the cellular level but focused primarily on behavioral assays of vestibular dysfunction such as gait analyses and vestibulo-ocular reflex performance. While this work has yielded valuable data about what happens when things go wrong, little information is gleaned regarding the underlying causes of dysfunction. Of the studies that focus on the cellular and subcellular processes that underlie vestibular function, most have relied on acutely isolated hair cells, devoid of their synaptic connections and supporting cell environment. Therefore, a major technical challenge has been access to the exquisitely sensitive vestibular hair cells in a preparation that is least disrupted, physiologically. Here we demonstrate a semi-intact preparation of the mouse vestibular sensory epithelium that retains the local micro-environment including hair cell/primary afferent complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria W K Tung
- Discipline of Biomedical Science, School of Medical Sciences, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney
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