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Huang WQ, Sheng H, Wang H, Qi Y, Wang F, Hua Y. Volume electron microscopy reveals age-related ultrastructural differences of globular bush cell axons in mouse central auditory system. Neurobiol Aging 2024; 136:111-124. [PMID: 38342072 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2024.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
In mammals, thick axonal calibers wrapped with heavy myelin sheaths are prevalent in the auditory nervous system. These features are crucial for fast traveling of nerve impulses with minimal attenuation required for sound signal transmission. In particular, the long-range projections from the cochlear nucleus - the axons of globular bush cells (GBCs) - to the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) are tonotopically organized. However, it remains controversial in gerbils and mice whether structural and functional adaptations are present among the GBC axons targeting different MNTB frequency regions. By means of high-throughput volume electron microscopy, we compared the GBC axons in full-tonotopy-ranged MNTB slices from the C57BL/6 mice at different ages. Our quantification reveals distinct caliber diameter and myelin profile of the GBC axons with endings at lateral and medial MNTB, arguing for modulation of functionally heterogeneous axon subgroups. In addition, we reported axon-specific differences in axon caliber, node of Ranvier, and myelin sheath among juvenile, adult, and old mice, indicating the age-related changes of GBC axon morphology over time. These findings provide structural insight into the maturation and degeneration of GBC axons with frequency tuning across the lifespan of mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Qing Huang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Central Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Haibin Sheng
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Haoyu Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yumeng Qi
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fangfang Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yunfeng Hua
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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