2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Exploration of the role of caveolin in the organ of Corti
Project/Area Number |
16H07188
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Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
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Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
Research Field |
Otorhinolaryngology
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Research Institution | Juntendo University |
Principal Investigator |
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Project Period (FY) |
2016-08-26 – 2018-03-31
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Keywords | カベオリン / 難聴 / 有毛細胞 |
Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Mutations in GJB2, which encodes connexin 26 (Cx26), a cochlear gap junction protein, represent a major cause of pre-lingual, non-syndromic deafness. The degeneration of the organ of Corti observed in Cx26 mutant-associated deafness is thought to be a secondary pathology of hearing loss.The mechanism underlying secondary outer hair cell (OHC) degeneration remains unknown. We analyzed transmission electron micrographs of OHCs. Ultrastructure of the plasma membrane of OHCs shows a significantly large number of caveolae or caveolar vesicles were associated with OHCs lateral wall in Cx26 deficient mice as compared with those in the control mice. This may indicate that excessive endocytosis occurs in the presence of this Cx26 mutation, leading to OHC degeneration.
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Free Research Field |
耳鼻咽喉科学
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