Localization of osteopontin in the otoconial organs of adult rats.
Although it is known that mammalian otoconia consist of calcium bicarbonate and organic materials, none of the protein components have been identified in mammals at the molecular level, and the mechanisms of morphogenesis and calcification of the otoconia is still unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated the presence of osteopontin (OPN) in rat otoconia by using immunohistochemistry, and detected OPN mRNA in the sensory hair cells by a non-radioisotopic in situ hybridization technique. These results indicate that OPN is one of the protein components in rat otoconia and suggest that sensory hair cells are involved in the production of otoconia.
Takemura
T
T
Department of Otolaryngology, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Sakagami
M
M
Nakase
T
T
Kubo
T
T
Kitamura
Y
Y
Nomura
S
S
D000818:Animals; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D053495:Osteopontin; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012444:Saccule and Utricle / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D016707:Tissue Fixation
D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; C506897:Spp1 protein, rat; D053495:Osteopontin