Endolymphatic potassium of the chicken vestibule during embryonic development

The endolymph fills the lumen of the inner ear membranous labyrinth. Its ionic composition is unique in vertebrates as an extracellular fluid for its high-K(+)/low-Na(+) concentration. The endolymph is actively secreted by specialized cells located in the vestibular and cochlear epithelia. We have investigated the early phases of endolymph secretion by measuring the endolymphatic K(+) concentration in the chicken vestibular system during pre-hatching development. Measurements were done by inserting K(+)-selective microelectrodes in chicken embryo ampullae dissected at different developmental stages from embryonic day 9 up to embryonic day 21 (day of hatching). We found that the K(+) concentration is low (<10mM/L) up to embryonic day 11, afterward it increases steeply to reach a plateau level of about 140 mM/L at embryonic day 19--21. We have developed a short-term in vitro model of endolymph secretion by culturing vestibular ampullae dissected from embryonic day 11 chicken embryos for a few days. The preparation reproduced a double compartment system where the luminal K(+) concentration increased along with the days of culturing. This model could be important for (1) investigating the development of cellular mechanisms contributing to endolymph homeostasis and (2) testing compounds that influence those mechanisms

Calyx and dimorphic neurons of mouse Scarpa's ganglion express histamine H3 receptors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Histamine-related drugs are commonly used in the treatment of vertigo and related vestibular disorders. The site of action of these drugs however has not been elucidated yet. Recent works on amphibians showed that histamine H3 receptor antagonists, e.g. betahistine, inhibit the afferent discharge recorded from the vestibular nerve. To assess the expression of H3 histamine receptors in vestibular neurons, we performed mRNA RT-PCR and immunofluorescence experiments in mouse Scarpa's ganglia.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>RT-PCR analysis showed the presence of H3 receptor mRNA in mouse ganglia tissue. H3 protein expression was found in vestibular neurons characterized by large and roundish soma, which labeled for calretinin and calbindin.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present results are consistent with calyx and dimorphic, but not bouton, afferent vestibular neurons expressing H3 receptors. This study provides a molecular substrate for the effects of histamine-related antivertigo drugs acting on (or binding to) H3 receptors, and suggest a potential target for the treatment of vestibular disorders of peripheral origin.</p

L-type Ca channel biophysical properties in vestibular hair cells

It is presented a description of the elementary properties of voltage-dependent L-type Ca channels expressed by chicken embryo vestibularc hair cell

Influenza di alcuni farmaci vasoattivi sulla trasmissione sinaptica in gangli oprtosimpatici umani

The effects of the following vasoactive drugs: Bencyclan fumarate, Cetiedil citrate, Cinepazide maleate, Dihydroergocristine methane sulphonate, Nafthydrofuril acid oxalate, Papaverine hydrochloride, Piribedil monomethane sulphonate, Raubasine, Thymoxamine hydrochloride and Xanthinol nicotinate, in concentrations ranging between 0.001 - 2 mM, were tested on the compound action potentials led off from human isolated sympathetic ganglions. The experiments, carried out on 50 isolated lumbar ganglion preparations removed from 23 subjects with arteriopathy of the limbs, indicated that all the drugs are able to impair the synaptic transmission, although at different concentrations. These findings are in favour of the hypothesis that the vasodilatatory effects observed after therapeutic treatment of patients with vasoactive drugs are partially produced by the vasodilatation following the depression of the sympathetic nervous transmission

Is the caloric stimulation of the vestibule hydrostatic or hydrodynamic in nature?

Results of experiments in which isolated frog labyrinth preparation was locally heated were consistent with the predictions of the so-called hydrostatic model of the canal (Gentine et al., 1991) and not with those of models assuming convective endolymphatic currents