Immunocytochemical study of catecholaminergic innervation in the guinea pig cochlea.
The enzymes for synthesis of catecholamine, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH), and phenylethanolamine N-methyl transferase (PNMT), have been immunocytochemically localized in the guinea pig cochlea. Two groups of catecholamine-containing neurons could be distinguished. The first group, which was TH-positive/DBH, PNMT-negative, was found in the inner spiral bundle and the tunnel spiral bundle. The other group was TH, DBH-positive/PNMT-negative, and was found around the blood vessels. The immunocytochemical evidence obtained in this experiment suggests that the catecholamines should play a functional role in the guinea pig cochlea.
D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000502:physiology*; D003051:Cochlea / Q000294:innervation*; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D010625:Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
D002395:Catecholamines; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; D010625:Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase