Protein markers in the microcyst of the posteroventral cochlear nucleus of the gerbil.

Microcysts are most evident in the posteroventral and anteroventral cochlear nuclei (PVCN and AVCN) of the Mongolian gerbil. The origin and contents of the microcyst are not elucidated at present. The present study investigated the possible inclusions in the microcyst by employing immunocytochemical labeling to localize the existence of various protein markers. Thirty and 100 microm thick sections were used to substitute and reconstruct between 6 and 20 paraffin serial sections, respectively. In 30-microm-thick slice sections, immunoreactivity of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP-IR), mitochondria inner membrane (MCA-In-IR), S-100 (S-100-IR), serotonin (5-HT-IR), myelin proteolipid protein (PLP-IR) and substance P (SP-IR) abutted on the perimeter of the microcyst. The immunolabeled SP-positive cells were adjacent to the evagination of the microcyst. In 100-microm-thick slice sections, immunoreactivity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS-IR) and somatostatin (SOM-IR) mainly precipitated as flocculent structures in the small to medium-sized microcysts. 5-HT-IR also precipitated as an elongated flocculent stalk adjacent to the large microcyst or randomly distributed in the neuropil. The findings suggest that GFAP, MCA-In, S-100, 5-HT, PLP, SP, NOS and SOM may be involved in modulating the physiological functions and maintaining micro-environmental homeostasis of the microcyst in the cochlear nucleus of the gerbil.

[1]  S. M. Yu,et al.  Postnatal morphologic changes and glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity in the anteroventral cochlear nucleus of the acoustically-deprived gerbil. , 1997, Histology and histopathology.

[2]  B. Faddis,et al.  Exposure to low frequency noise during rearing induces spongiform lesions in gerbil cochlear nucleus: High frequency exposure does not , 1994, Hearing Research.

[3]  I. Schwartz,et al.  Glial or neuronal origin of microcysts in the gerbil PVCN? , 1993, Hearing Research.

[4]  B. Faddis,et al.  Glial Populations in the Juvenile and Adult Mongolian Gerbil: Relationship to Spongiform Degeneration of the Ventral Cochlear Nucleus , 1993, Experimental Neurology.

[5]  S. M. Yu.  Postnatal development of GABAergic neurons in the gerbil cochlear nucleus: pre-embedding and post-embedding immunocytochemical staining. , 1992, Journal of the Formosan Medical Association = Taiwan yi zhi.

[6]  I. Schwartz,et al.  Neuronal populations in the gerbil PVCN: Effects of age, hearing status and microcysts , 1991, Hearing Research.

[7]  Robert L. Smith,et al.  Development of mature microcystic lesions in the cochlear nuclei of the mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus , 1990, Hearing Research.

[8]  E. Ostapoff,et al.  A degenerative disorder of the central auditory system of the gerbil , 1989, Hearing Research.

[9]  R. Wenthold,et al.  Ultrastructural localization of GABA-immunoreactive terminals in the anteroventral cochlear nucleus of the guinea pig , 1988, Hearing Research.

[10]  B. Faddis,et al.  Auditory experience affects degeneration of the ventral cochlear nucleus in mongolian gerbils , 1987, Hearing Research.

[11]  J. Zempel,et al.  Immunocytochemical localization of GABA in the cochlear nucleus of the guinea pig , 1986, Brain Research.

[12]  I. W. Mclean,et al.  PERIODATE-LYSINE-PARAFORMALDEHYDE FIXATIVE A NEW FIXATIVE FOR IMMUNOELECTRON MICROSCOPY , 1974, The journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry : official journal of the Histochemistry Society.