基于AFM的细胞弹性及黏弹性研究

原子力显微镜(AFM)的发明为测量生理环境下单个活细胞的机械特性提供了新的技术手段.现有AFM单细胞机械特性研究集中在测量细胞弹性.细胞本质上是黏弹性的,但目前关于细胞黏弹性在细胞生理活动行为中作用的认知还很不足.基于AFM逼近-停留-回退实验,发展了可同时对细胞弹性及黏弹性进行测量的方法,并应用该方法首先测量了正常乳腺细胞和乳腺癌细胞的弹性(杨氏模量)及黏弹性(松驰时间),显示出正常乳腺细胞和乳腺癌细胞的杨氏模量及松弛时间均有着显著的差异.AFM成像揭示了正常乳腺细胞和乳腺癌细胞在细胞表面形态及几何特征方面的差异.随后对3种不同类型的细胞系及原代B淋巴细胞进行了测量,证明了松驰时间在辅助杨氏模量鉴定细胞状态方面的潜力.实验结果为定量测量细胞机械特性提供了新的方法,便于从多个角度研究单个细胞的生物力学行为.     

内耳免疫反应诱导Fas和FasL表达与凋亡的关系

目的研究内耳免疫反应过程中是否存在细胞凋亡,以及细胞凋亡是否与Fas和FasL信号转导有关.方法选用雌性白色豚鼠16只,随机分为实验组和对照组各8只,以钥孔虫戚血蓝蛋白(keyhole limpet hemocyanin,KLH)全身免疫后,实验组以相同抗原进行内耳免疫,对照组内耳注射等量的磷酸盐缓冲生理盐水(phosphate buffered saline,PBS),在内耳免疫5d后处死动物,取内耳免疫侧耳蜗做石蜡切片.通过脱氧核糖核苷酸末端转移酶介导的缺口末端标记技术(terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling,TUNEL)检测内耳凋亡细胞,免疫组化检测内耳Fas和FasL的表达.结果实验组豚鼠内耳Corti器毛细胞,血管纹的缘细胞和螺旋神经节细胞存在TUNEL染色阳性细胞,而对照组动物切片仅在支持细胞、血管纹和螺旋神经节细胞中发现极少数TUNEL染色阳性细胞.免疫组化染色实验组Corti器、螺旋神经节细胞、血管纹和螺旋韧带Fas和FasL蛋白表达阳性,而对照组只有螺旋神经节细胞和血管纹有较弱的Fas蛋白表达,FasL蛋白表达阴性.结论内耳免疫反应可诱导细胞凋亡的发生,Fas-FasL途径是参与此过程重要的信号转导途径之一.     

豚鼠耳蜗内毛细胞、外毛细胞及外指细胞钙成像

用ｆｌｕｏ－３／ｆｕｒａ－ｒｅｄ荧光比值作细胞内游离钙指标,用激光扫描共聚焦显微镜测定豚鼠耳蜗分离的内、外毛细胞及外指细胞的游离钙,并利用钙成像技术进行细胞形态计量。单个外毛细胞呈试管状。内毛细胞呈烧瓶状,有明显的颈部。外指细胞分为体部及指状突部。毛细胞的胞内游离钙浓度明显高于外指细胞。毛细胞的胞质、胞核及表皮板的游离钙浓度不同。外指细胞的细胞体与指状突的游离钙浓度也不同。本研究认为,有无颈部为区别分离的内、外毛细胞的重要标准,外指细胞可凭借其特异的指状突结构以资识别。内耳毛细胞及外指细胞胞内游离钙分布的不均一性可能与各部位生理功能不同有关。     

硫酸卡那霉素对成年大鼠的耳毒性效应

本研究旨在观察硫酸卡那霉素(kanamycin sulfate,KM)对成年大鼠的耳毒性效应。6～7周龄的雄性Sprague-Dawley(SD)大鼠40只,随机分为2组:实验组,每天腹腔注射KM(500mg/kg)2周;对照组,注射等量生理盐水2周。通过检测脑干听觉诱发电位(auditory brainstem response,ABR)观察大鼠听力改变。ABR检测结束后,分离出耳蜗进行基底膜铺片、耳蜗冰冻切片,观察耳蜗螺旋神经节细胞(spiral ganglion cells,SGCs)的密度和耳蜗形态学改变。结果显示,注射KM2周后,大鼠在各频率的听觉阈值均有明显升高,其上升幅度超过60dB;随着时间推移,KM组SGCs密度逐渐降低,Corti器结构尚存,但外毛细胞及内毛细胞均有不同程度的缺失,以外毛细胞为甚;内毛细胞缺失与SGCs的密度下降相平行。以上结果表明,6～7周龄大鼠经过KM作用2周后,听力会明显下降,达到重度耳聋甚至全聋。KM的耳毒性作用与SGCs和内外毛细胞的损伤密切相关。     

FGF信号通路在内耳发育调控和毛细胞再生中的作用

内耳是感受听觉和平衡觉的复杂器官。在内耳发育过程中,成纤维生长因子(fibroblast growth factor, FGF)信号通路参与了听基板的诱导、螺旋神经节(statoacoustic ganglion, SAG)的发育以及Corti器感觉上皮的分化。FGF信号开启了内耳早期发育的基因调控网络,诱导前基板区域以及听基板的形成。正常表达的FGF信号分子可促进听囊腹侧成神经细胞的特化,但成熟SAG神经元释放的过量FGF5可抑制此过程,形成负反馈环路使SAG在稳定状态下发育。FGF20在Notch信号通路的调控下参与了前感觉上皮区域向毛细胞和支持细胞的分化过程,而内毛细胞分泌的FGF8可调控局部支持细胞分化为柱细胞。人类FGF信号通路异常可导致多种耳聋相关遗传病。此外,FGF信号通路在低等脊椎动物毛细胞自发再生以及干细胞向内耳毛细胞诱导过程中都起到了关键作用。本文综述了FGF信号通路在内耳发育调控以及毛细胞再生中的作用及其相关研究进展,以期为毛细胞再生中FGF信号通路调控机制的阐明奠定理论基础。     

原子力显微镜在细胞弹性研究中的应用

细胞表面的力学性质会随着细胞所处环境的不同而发生改变,它的变化间接反映出胞内复杂的生理过程。原子力显微镜（atomic force microscope,AFM）能以高的灵敏度和分辨率检测活体细胞,通过利用赫兹模型分析力曲线可以获得细胞的弹性信息。本文简介了原子力显微镜的工作原理与工作模式,着重介绍利用AFM力曲线检测细胞弹性的方法及其在细胞运动、细胞骨架、细胞黏附、细胞病理等方面的应用成果,表明AFM已经成为细胞弹性研究中十分重要的显微技术。     

腺病毒转染新生及成年鼠内耳细胞的研究

目的探讨腺病毒携带目的基因Cre和Oct4导入新生和成年小鼠转染内耳细胞的可行性,为内耳基因治疗提供可行性研究。方法采用纳升级显微操作系统,经耳蜗中阶显微注射携带基因编辑基因Cre和绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)基因的5型重组腺病毒悬液于新生鼠(P1)和成年鼠,并以腺病毒携带Oct4基因转染入成年鼠内耳,注射4d后取双侧耳蜗标本做基底膜铺片,观察GFP和Oct4表达情况。结果新生鼠组:术后第4d见耳蜗底圈62%和中圈54%支持细胞表达GFP。成年鼠组:术后第4天可见耳蜗底圈96%和中圈51%内毛细胞表达GFP,底圈72%和中圈40%支持细胞表达GFP。31%内毛细胞和43%支持细胞表达Oct4。未注射耳未见GFP和Oct4表达。结论显微注射腺病毒携带目的基因Cre和Oct4可高效导入新生鼠及成年鼠内耳并表达,可用来研究内耳基因功能和基因治疗。     

原子力显微镜对人羊膜上皮细胞的观察

目的:在单细胞水平上分析人羊膜上皮细胞的超微结构及其机械性能(粘弹力、杨氏模量、硬度等),为进一步认识细胞结构与功能的关系奠定基础.方法:应用原子力显微镜(AFM)高分辨率、高灵敏度的特点,对人的羊膜上皮细胞进行观察.结果:人羊膜上皮细胞呈椭圆形,由原子力显微镜力位移曲线测量系统,可得粘弹力:1034.375±294.21 pN.硬度:1.1815±0.326mN/m,杨氏模量:16.44±4.67Kpa.结论:AFM能对人羊膜上皮细胞表面超微结构清晰地成像及提供更多更确切的表面信息及机械性能,从而增加对羊膜上皮细胞的认识.     

牵动内耳的纤维

据美国新近的解剖学研究结果,认为哺乳动物耳朵的最深部位并不是听觉的集中点。一些美国科学家在蝙蝠的耳朵里首次发现了一种异常细胞,这些细胞含有与肌肉中所见相同的收缩蛋白质。这种细胞能使内耳结构受到声音刺激时改变其振动方式。科学家们认为,这种异常细胞内部的收缩蛋白质能牵动附着于基底膜的螺旋形内耳结构的外部纤维。基底膜的运动是听力的一个关键因素,可能因外部纤维所施加的紧     

应用三维建模方法定量分析C57BL/6J小鼠耳蜗内毛细胞带状突触的数量

哺乳动物中耳蜗内毛细胞带状突触（ribbon synapse）是外界声音信号向大脑听中枢传递路径上的第一个感觉神经突触结构,它在声音的编码和神经递质的释放过程中发挥着重要作用.然而由于带状突触的数量相对比较少,而且空间位置深在,所以仅应用电子显微镜观察的方法定量分析其数量始终在技术上存在一定的困难.本研究通过对C57BL/6J小鼠耳蜗基底膜标本带状突触中的特异突触前结构RIBEYE和非特异突触后结构GluR 2＆3同时进行免疫荧光标记,采用激光共聚焦显微镜对标本进行光学连续切片,利用3DS MAX软件对连续切片标本进行三维建模,结果中每个荧光色对代表一个突触的存在.在此基础上对内毛细胞带状突触的数量进行计数,结果显示,耳蜗内毛细胞带状突触的空间分布及数量均可以清晰完整的重现出来.在本实验中,每个内毛细胞带状突触数量平均为（16.10±1.03）个.本实验结果表明,利用免疫荧光对小鼠耳蜗带状突触的前后膜结构进行双重标记,采用激光共聚焦显微镜对标本进行光学连续切片,应用3DS MAX软件对连续切片进行三维建模后可以准确计数带状突触的数量.实验表明,本方法准确可行,对今后深入探讨感觉神经性聋的机制具有重要意义。     

Consequences of Location-Dependent Organ of Corti Micro-Mechanics

The cochlea performs frequency analysis and amplification of sounds. The graded stiffness of the basilar membrane along the cochlear length underlies the frequency-location relationship of the mammalian cochlea. The somatic motility of outer hair cell is central for cochlear amplification. Despite two to three orders of magnitude change in the basilar membrane stiffness, the force capacity of the outer hair cell’s somatic motility, is nearly invariant over the cochlear length. It is puzzling how actuators with a constant force capacity can operate under such a wide stiffness range. We hypothesize that the organ of Corti sets the mechanical conditions so that the outer hair cell’s somatic motility effectively interacts with the media of traveling waves—the basilar membrane and the tectorial membrane. To test this hypothesis, a computational model of the gerbil cochlea was developed that incorporates organ of Corti structural mechanics, cochlear fluid dynamics, and hair cell electro-physiology. The model simulations showed that the micro-mechanical responses of the organ of Corti are different along the cochlear length. For example, the top surface of the organ of Corti vibrated more than the bottom surface at the basal (high frequency) location, but the amplitude ratio was reversed at the apical (low frequency) location. Unlike the basilar membrane stiffness varying by a factor of 1700 along the cochlear length, the stiffness of the organ of Corti complex felt by the outer hair cell remained between 1.5 and 0.4 times the outer hair cell stiffness. The Y-shaped structure in the organ of Corti formed by outer hair cell, Deiters cell and its phalange was the primary determinant of the elastic reactance imposed on the outer hair cells. The stiffness and geometry of the Deiters cell and its phalange affected cochlear amplification differently depending on the location.     

Intercellular cross-linkages between the stereociliary bundles of adjacent hair cells in the guinea pig cochlea

Summary Hair cells of the guinea pig organ of Corti have been examined using high resolution scanning electron microscopy. In addition to the extensive array of cross-links between the stereocilia of individual hair cells which have been reported previously, we have seen examples of attachments between the stereocilia of both adjacent inner and adjacent outer hair cells. The implications of these observations are discussed.     

Optimal Electrical Properties of Outer Hair Cells Ensure Cochlear Amplification

The organ of Corti (OC) is the auditory epithelium of the mammalian cochlea comprising sensory hair cells and supporting cells riding on the basilar membrane. The outer hair cells (OHCs) are cellular actuators that amplify small sound-induced vibrations for transmission to the inner hair cells. We developed a finite element model of the OC that incorporates the complex OC geometry and force generation by OHCs originating from active hair bundle motion due to gating of the transducer channels and somatic contractility due to the membrane protein prestin. The model also incorporates realistic OHC electrical properties. It explains the complex vibration modes of the OC and reproduces recent measurements of the phase difference between the top and the bottom surface vibrations of the OC. Simulations of an individual OHC show that the OHC somatic motility lags the hair bundle displacement by ∼90 degrees. Prestin-driven contractions of the OHCs cause the top and bottom surfaces of the OC to move in opposite directions. Combined with the OC mechanics, this results in ∼90 degrees phase difference between the OC top and bottom surface vibration. An appropriate electrical time constant for the OHC membrane is necessary to achieve the phase relationship between OC vibrations and OHC actuations. When the OHC electrical frequency characteristics are too high or too low, the OHCs do not exert force with the correct phase to the OC mechanics so that they cannot amplify. We conclude that the components of OHC forward and reverse transduction are crucial for setting the phase relations needed for amplification.     

Force Transmission in the Organ of Corti Micromachine

Auditory discrimination is limited by the performance of the cochlea whose acute sensitivity and frequency tuning are underpinned by electromechanical feedback from the outer hair cells. Two processes may underlie this feedback: voltage-driven contractility of the outer hair cell body and active motion of the hair bundle. Either process must exert its mechanical effect via deformation of the organ of Corti, a complex assembly of sensory and supporting cells riding on the basilar membrane. Using finite element analysis, we present a three-dimensional model to illustrate deformation of the organ of Corti by the two active processes. The model used available measurements of the properties of structural components in low-frequency and high-frequency regions of the rodent cochlea. The simulations agreed well with measurements of the cochlear partition stiffness, the longitudinal space constant for point deflection, and the deformation of the organ of Corti for current injection, as well as displaying a 20-fold increase in passive resonant frequency from apex to base. The radial stiffness of the tectorial membrane attachment was found to be a crucial element in the mechanical feedback. Despite a substantial difference in the maximum force generated by hair bundle and somatic motility, the two mechanisms induced comparable amplitudes of motion of the basilar membrane but differed in the polarity of their feedback on hair bundle position. Compared to the hair bundle motor, the somatic motor was more effective in deforming the organ of Corti than in displacing the basilar membrane.     

THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE SENSORY HAIRS AND ASSOCIATED ORGANELLES OF THE COCHLEAR INNER HAIR CELL, WITH REFERENCE TO DIRECTIONAL SENSITIVITY

From the apical end of the inner hair cell of the organ of Corti in the guinea pig cochlea protrude four to five rows of stereocilia shaped in a pattern not unlike the wings of a bird. In the area devoid of cuticular substance facing toward the tunnel of Corti lies a consistently present centriole. The ultrastructure of this centriole is similar to that of the basal body of the kinocilium located in the periphery of the sensory hair bundles in the vestibular and lateral line organ sensory cells and to that of the centrioles of other cells. The physiological implications of the anatomical orientation of this centriole are discussed in terms of directional sensitivity.     

Electromotility of outer hair cells from the cochlea of the echolocating bat,Carollia perspicillata

Isolated outer hair cells (OHCs) and explants ot the organ of Corti were obtained from the cochlea of the echolocating bat, Carollia perspicillata, whose hearing range extends up to about 100 kHz. The OHCs were about 10–30 m long and produced resting potentials between-30 to -69 mV. During stimulation with a sinusoidal extracellular voltage field (voltage gradient of 2 mV/m) cyclic length changes were observed in isolated OHCs. The displacements were most prominent at the level of the cell nucleus and the cuticular plate. In the organ of Corti explants, the extracellular electric field induced a radial movement of the cuticular plate which was observed using video subtraction and photodiode techniques. Maximum displacements of about 0.3–0.8 m were elicited by stimulus frequencies below 100 Hz. The displacement amplitude decreased towards the noise level of about 10–30 nm for stimulus frequencies between 100–500 Hz, both in apical and basal explants. This compares well with data from the guinea pig, where OHC motility induced by extracellular electrical stimulation exhibits a low pass characteristic with a corner frequency below 1 kHz. The data indicate that fast OHC movements presumably are quite small at ultrasonic frequencies and it remains to be solved how they participate in amplifying and sharpening cochlear responses in vivo.Abbreviations BM basilar membrane - FFT fast Fourier Transfer - IHC inner hair cell - OHC outer hair cell     

The endocochlear potential alters cochlear micromechanics

Acoustic stimulation gates mechanically sensitive ion channels in cochlear sensory hair cells. Even in the absence of sound, a fraction of these channels remains open, forming a conductance between hair cells and the adjacent fluid space, scala media. Restoring the lost endogenous polarization of scala media in an in vitro preparation of the whole cochlea depolarizes the hair cell soma. Using both digital laser interferometry and time-resolved confocal imaging, we show that this causes a structural refinement within the organ of Corti that is dependent on the somatic electromotility of the outer hair cells (OHCs). Specifically, the inner part of the reticular lamina up to the second row of OHCs is pulled toward the basilar membrane, whereas the outer part (third row of OHCs and the Hensen's cells) unexpectedly moves in the opposite direction. A similar differentiated response pattern is observed for sound-evoked vibrations: restoration of the endogenous polarization decreases vibrations of the inner part of the reticular lamina and results in up to a 10-fold increase of vibrations of the outer part. We conclude that the endogenous polarization of scala media affects the function of the hearing organ by altering its geometry, mechanical and electrical properties.     

Differentiation of the lateral compartment of the cochlea requires a temporally restricted FGF20 signal

A large proportion of age-related hearing loss is caused by loss or damage to outer hair cells in the organ of Corti. The organ of Corti is the mechanosensory transducing apparatus in the inner ear and is composed of inner hair cells, outer hair cells, and highly specialized supporting cells. The mechanisms that regulate differentiation of inner and outer hair cells are not known. Here we report that fibroblast growth factor 20 (FGF20) is required for differentiation of cells in the lateral cochlear compartment (outer hair and supporting cells) within the organ of Corti during a specific developmental time. In the absence of FGF20, mice are deaf and lateral compartment cells remain undifferentiated, postmitotic, and unresponsive to Notch-dependent lateral inhibition. These studies identify developmentally distinct medial (inner hair and supporting cells) and lateral compartments in the developing organ of Corti. The viability and hearing loss in Fgf20 knockout mice suggest that FGF20 may also be a deafness-associated gene in humans.     

Protein expression of pigment-epithelium-derived factor in rat cochlea

Pigment-epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a 50-kDa glycoprotein with well-recognised expression in various mammalian organs showing diverse (e.g. anti-angiogenic and neuroprotective) activities. However, at present, no information is available regarding the potential function of this cytokine in the inner ear. As a first approach to investigating whether PEDF is involved in cochlear function, we have explored its protein expression in the rat cochlea by immunocytochemistry. Our results show that PEDF expression in the cochlea is most prominent in the basilar membrane below the organ of Corti, in the lateral wall (especially in the stria vascularis), in ganglion neurons, and in the endothelia of blood vessels. Our findings on its distribution in the cochlea suggest that PEDF in the basilar membrane prevents blood vessel formation that would disturb cochlear micromechanics and would interfere with the mechano-electrical transduction in the organ of Corti. In cochlear ganglion neurons, PEDF might serve a neuroprotective function possibly protecting these neurons from excessive glutamate released by the inner hair cells. Our data constitute the first report on the morphological protein distribution of this multifunctional molecule in the rat cochlea and suggest its role in important functions of the internal ear. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorised users.     

Regeneration of Stereocilia of Hair Cells by Forced Atoh1 Expression in the Adult Mammalian Cochlea

The hallmark of mechanosensory hair cells is the stereocilia, where mechanical stimuli are converted into electrical signals. These delicate stereocilia are susceptible to acoustic trauma and ototoxic drugs. While hair cells in lower vertebrates and the mammalian vestibular system can spontaneously regenerate lost stereocilia, mammalian cochlear hair cells no longer retain this capability. We explored the possibility of regenerating stereocilia in the noise-deafened guinea pig cochlea by cochlear inoculation of a viral vector carrying Atoh1, a gene critical for hair cell differentiation. Exposure to simulated gunfire resulted in a 60–70 dB hearing loss and extensive damage and loss of stereocilia bundles of both inner and outer hair cells along the entire cochlear length. However, most injured hair cells remained in the organ of Corti for up to 10 days after the trauma. A viral vector carrying an EGFP-labeled Atoh1 gene was inoculated into the cochlea through the round window on the seventh day after noise exposure. Auditory brainstem response measured one month after inoculation showed that hearing thresholds were substantially improved. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the damaged/lost stereocilia bundles were repaired or regenerated after Atoh1 treatment, suggesting that Atoh1 was able to induce repair/regeneration of the damaged or lost stereocilia. Therefore, our studies revealed a new role of Atoh1 as a gene critical for promoting repair/regeneration of stereocilia and maintaining injured hair cells in the adult mammal cochlea. Atoh1-based gene therapy, therefore, has the potential to treat noise-induced hearing loss if the treatment is carried out before hair cells die.