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Bachman JL, Kitcher SR, Vattino LG, Beaulac HJ, Chaves MG, Rivera IH, Katz E, Wedemeyer C, Weisz CJ. GABAergic synapses between auditory efferent neurons and type II spiral ganglion afferent neurons in the mouse cochlea. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.28.587185. [PMID: 38586043 PMCID: PMC10996694 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.28.587185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Cochlear outer hair cells (OHCs) are electromotile and are implicated in mechanisms of amplification of responses to sound that enhance sound sensitivity and frequency tuning. They send information to the brain through glutamatergic synapses onto a small subpopulation of neurons of the ascending auditory nerve, the type II spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). The OHC synapses onto type II SGNs are sparse and weak, suggesting that type II SGNs respond primarily to loud and possibly damaging levels of sound. OHCs also receive innervation from the brain through the medial olivocochlear (MOC) efferent neurons. MOC neurons are cholinergic yet exert an inhibitory effect on auditory function as they are coupled to alpha9/alpha10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) on OHCs, which leads to calcium influx that gates SK potassium channels. The net hyperpolarization exerted by this efferent synapse reduces OHC activity-evoked electromotility and is implicated in cochlear gain control, protection against acoustic trauma, and attention. MOC neurons also label for markers of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and GABA synthesis. GABAB autoreceptor (GABABR) activation by GABA released from MOC terminals has been demonstrated to reduce ACh release, confirming important negative feedback roles for GABA. However, the full complement of GABAergic activity in the cochlea is not currently understood, including the mechanisms that regulate GABA release from MOC axon terminals, whether GABA diffuses from MOC axon terminals to other postsynaptic cells, and the location and function of GABAA receptors (GABAARs). Previous electron microscopy studies suggest that MOC neurons form contacts onto several other cell types in the cochlea, but whether these contacts form functional synapses, and what neurotransmitters are employed, are unknown. Here we use immunohistochemistry, optical neurotransmitter imaging and patch-clamp electrophysiology from hair cells, afferent dendrites, and efferent axons to demonstrate that in addition to presynaptic GABABR autoreceptor activation, MOC efferent axon terminals release GABA onto type II SGN afferent dendrites with postsynaptic activity mediated by GABAARs. This synapse may have multiple roles including developmental regulation of cochlear innervation, fine tuning of OHC activity, or providing feedback to the brain about MOC and OHC activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia L. Bachman
- These authors contributed equally
- Section on Neuronal Circuitry, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Siân R. Kitcher
- These authors contributed equally
- Section on Neuronal Circuitry, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Lucas G. Vattino
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Dr. Héctor N. Torres, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 1428 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Eaton Peabody Laboratories, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Holly J. Beaulac
- Section on Neuronal Circuitry, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - M. Grace Chaves
- Section on Neuronal Circuitry, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Eaton Peabody Laboratories, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Graduate Program in Speech and Hearing Biosciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Israel Hernandez Rivera
- Section on Neuronal Circuitry, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Eleonora Katz
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Dr. Héctor N. Torres, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 1428 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carolina Wedemeyer
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Dr. Héctor N. Torres, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 1428 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Catherine J.C. Weisz
- Section on Neuronal Circuitry, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Tureček R, Melichar A, Králíková M, Hrušková B. The role of GABA B receptors in the subcortical pathways of the mammalian auditory system. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1195038. [PMID: 37635966 PMCID: PMC10456889 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1195038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
GABAB receptors are G-protein coupled receptors for the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. Functional GABAB receptors are formed as heteromers of GABAB1 and GABAB2 subunits, which further associate with various regulatory and signaling proteins to provide receptor complexes with distinct pharmacological and physiological properties. GABAB receptors are widely distributed in nervous tissue, where they are involved in a number of processes and in turn are subject to a number of regulatory mechanisms. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of the cellular distribution and function of the receptors in the inner ear and auditory pathway of the mammalian brainstem and midbrain. The findings suggest that in these regions, GABAB receptors are involved in processes essential for proper auditory function, such as cochlear amplifier modulation, regulation of spontaneous activity, binaural and temporal information processing, and predictive coding. Since impaired GABAergic inhibition has been found to be associated with various forms of hearing loss, GABAB dysfunction could also play a role in some pathologies of the auditory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rostislav Tureček
- Department of Auditory Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czechia
| | - Adolf Melichar
- Department of Auditory Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czechia
- Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Michaela Králíková
- Department of Auditory Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czechia
| | - Bohdana Hrušková
- Department of Auditory Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czechia
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Moglie MJ, Wengier DL, Elgoyhen AB, Goutman JD. Synaptic Contributions to Cochlear Outer Hair Cell Ca 2+ Dynamics. J Neurosci 2021; 41:6812-6821. [PMID: 34253627 PMCID: PMC8360681 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3008-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
For normal cochlear function, outer hair cells (OHCs) require a precise control of intracellular Ca2+ levels. In the absence of regulatory elements such as proteinaceous buffers or extrusion pumps, OHCs degenerate, leading to profound hearing impairment. Influx of Ca2+ occurs both at the stereocilia tips and the basolateral membrane. In this latter compartment, two different origins for Ca2+ influx have been poorly explored: voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ channels (VGCCs) at synapses with Type II afferent neurons, and α9α10 cholinergic nicotinic receptors at synapses with medio-olivochlear complex (MOC) neurons. Using functional imaging in mouse OHCs, we dissected Ca2+ influx individually through each of these sources, either by applying step depolarizations to activate VGCC, or stimulating MOC axons. Ca2+ ions originated in MOC synapses, but not by VGCC activation, was confined by Ca2+-ATPases most likely present in nearby synaptic cisterns. Although Ca2+ currents in OHCs are small, VGCC Ca2+ signals were comparable in size to those elicited by α9α10 receptors, and were potentiated by ryanodine receptors (RyRs). In contrast, no evidence of potentiation by RyRs was found for MOC Ca2+ signals over a wide range of presynaptic stimulation strengths. Our study shows that despite the fact that these two Ca2+ entry sites are closely positioned, they differ in their regulation by intracellular cisterns and/or organelles, suggesting the existence of well-tuned mechanisms to separate the two different OHC synaptic functions.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Outer hair cells (OHCs) are sensory cells in the inner ear operating under very special constraints. Acoustic stimulation leads to fast changes both in membrane potential and in the intracellular concentration of metabolites such as Ca2+ Tight mechanisms for Ca2+ control in OHCs have been reported. Interestingly, Ca2+ is crucial for two important synaptic processes: inhibition by efferent cholinergic neurons, and glutamate release onto Type II afferent fibers. In the current study we functionally imaged Ca2+ at these two different synapses, showing close positioning within the basolateral compartment of OHCs. In addition, we show differential regulation of these two Ca2+ sources by synaptic cisterns and/or organelles, which could result crucial for functional segregation during normal hearing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo J Moglie
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres" (INGEBI) (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina
| | - Diego L Wengier
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres" (INGEBI) (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina
| | - A Belén Elgoyhen
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres" (INGEBI) (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina
| | - Juan D Goutman
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres" (INGEBI) (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina
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Fisher F, Zhang Y, Vincent PFY, Gajewiak J, Gordon TJ, Glowatzki E, Fuchs PA, McIntosh JM. Cy3-RgIA-5727 Labels and Inhibits α9-Containing nAChRs of Cochlear Hair Cells. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:697560. [PMID: 34385908 PMCID: PMC8354143 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.697560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Efferent cholinergic neurons inhibit sensory hair cells of the vertebrate inner ear through the combined action of calcium-permeable α9α10-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and associated calcium-dependent potassium channels. The venom of cone snails is a rich repository of bioactive peptides, many with channel blocking activities. The conopeptide analog, RgIA-5474, is a specific and potent antagonist of α9α10-containing nAChRs. We added an alkyl functional group to the N-terminus of the RgIA-5474, to enable click chemistry addition of the fluorescent cyanine dye, Cy3. The resulting peptide, Cy3-RgIA-5727, potently blocked mouse α9α10 nAChRs expressed in Xenopus oocytes (IC50 23 pM), with 290-fold less activity on α7 nAChRs and 40,000-fold less activity on all other tested nAChR subtypes. The tight binding of Cy3-RgIA-5727 provided robust visualization of hair cell nAChRs juxtaposed to cholinergic efferent terminals in excised, unfixed cochlear tissue from mice. Presumptive postsynaptic sites on outer hair cells (OHCs) were labeled, but absent from inner hair cells (IHCs) and from OHCs in cochlear tissue from α9-null mice and in cochlear tissue pre-incubated with non-Cy3-conjugated RgIA-5474. In cochlear tissue from younger (postnatal day 10) mice, Cy3-RgIA-5727 also labeled IHCs, corresponding to transient efferent innervation at that age. Cy3 puncta in Kölliker’s organ remained in the α9-null tissue. Pre-exposure with non-Cy3-conjugated RgIA-5474 or bovine serum albumin reduced this non-specific labeling to variable extents in different preparations. Cy3-RgIA-5727 and RgIA-5474 blocked the native hair cell nAChRs, within the constraints of application to the excised cochlear tissue. Cy3-RgIA-5727 or RgIA-5474 block of efferent synaptic currents in young IHCs was not relieved after 50 min washing, so effectively irreversible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Fisher
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Philippe F Y Vincent
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Joanna Gajewiak
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Thomas J Gordon
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Elisabeth Glowatzki
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Paul Albert Fuchs
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - J Michael McIntosh
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.,George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah School Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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Wang Y, Sanghvi M, Gribizis A, Zhang Y, Song L, Morley B, Barson DG, Santos-Sacchi J, Navaratnam D, Crair M. Efferent feedback controls bilateral auditory spontaneous activity. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2449. [PMID: 33907194 PMCID: PMC8079389 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22796-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In the developing auditory system, spontaneous activity generated in the cochleae propagates into the central nervous system to promote circuit formation. The effects of peripheral firing patterns on spontaneous activity in the central auditory system are not well understood. Here, we describe wide-spread bilateral coupling of spontaneous activity that coincides with the period of transient efferent modulation of inner hair cells from the brainstem medial olivocochlear system. Knocking out α9/α10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, a requisite part of the efferent pathway, profoundly reduces bilateral correlations. Pharmacological and chemogenetic experiments confirm that the efferent system is necessary for normal bilateral coupling. Moreover, auditory sensitivity at hearing onset is reduced in the absence of pre-hearing efferent modulation. Together, these results demonstrate how afferent and efferent pathways collectively shape spontaneous activity patterns and reveal the important role of efferents in coordinating bilateral spontaneous activity and the emergence of functional responses during the prehearing period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixiang Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Maya Sanghvi
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Alexandra Gribizis
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, One Max Planck Way, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Yueyi Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Lei Song
- Department of Surgery (Otolaryngology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Barbara Morley
- Center for Sensory Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Daniel G Barson
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Joseph Santos-Sacchi
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Surgery (Otolaryngology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Dhasakumar Navaratnam
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Surgery (Otolaryngology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Michael Crair
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Kim WB, Kang KW, Sharma K, Yi E. Distribution of K v3 Subunits in Cochlear Afferent and Efferent Nerve Fibers Implies Distinct Role in Auditory Processing. Exp Neurobiol 2020; 29:344-355. [PMID: 33154197 PMCID: PMC7649084 DOI: 10.5607/en20043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Kv3 family K+ channels, by ensuring speedy repolarization of action potential, enable rapid and high frequency neuronal firing and high precision temporal coding of auditory information in various auditory synapses in the brain. Expression of different Kv3 subtypes within the auditory end organ has been reported. Yet, their precise role at the hair cell synaptic transmission has not been fully elucidated. Using immunolabeling and confocal microscopy we examined the expression pattern of different Kv3 family K+ channel subunits in the nerve fibers innervating the cochlear hair cells. Kv3.1b was found in NKA-positive type 1 afferent fibers, exhibiting high signal intensity at the cell body, the unmyelinated dendritic segment, first heminode and nodes of Ranvier. Kv3.3 signal was detected in the cell body and the unmyelinated dendritic segment of NKA-positive type 1 afferent fibers but not in peripherin-positive type 2 afferent. Kv3.4 was found in ChAT-positive LOC and MOC efferent fibers as well as peripherin-positive type 2 afferent fibers. Such segregated expression pattern implies that each Kv3 subunits participate in different auditory tasks, for example, Kv3.1b and Kv3.3 in ascending signaling while Kv3.4 in feedback upon loud noise exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woo Bin Kim
- College of Pharmacy and Natural Medicine Research Institute, Mokpo National University, Muan 58554, Korea
| | - Kwon-Woo Kang
- College of Pharmacy and Natural Medicine Research Institute, Mokpo National University, Muan 58554, Korea
| | - Kushal Sharma
- College of Pharmacy and Natural Medicine Research Institute, Mokpo National University, Muan 58554, Korea
| | - Eunyoung Yi
- College of Pharmacy and Natural Medicine Research Institute, Mokpo National University, Muan 58554, Korea
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