Choline acetyltransferase immunoreactivity in the human vestibular end-organs.
Acetylcholine (ACh) is believed to play a major role in the efferent vestibular system in several animal models, however no information regarding the role of ACh in the human efferent vestibular system has been published. Post-embedding immunohistochemistry in a hydrophilic resin was used to investigate the choline acetyltransferase immunoreactivity (ChATi) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) histochemistry in human vestibular end-organs. ChATi and AChE activity was found in numerous bouton-type terminals at the basal area of the vestibular hair cells. These terminals were found to contact type II vestibular hair cells and the afferent chalices surrounding type I hair cells. This study provides the first evidence that the human efferent vestibular axons and terminals are cholinergic.
Ishiyama
A
A
Temporal Bone and Molecular Biology Laboratories, Goodhill Ear Center, UCLA School of Medicine 90024-1794.
Lopez
I
I
Wackym
P A
PA
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D001369:Axons / Q000201:enzymology; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D002799:Cholinergic Fibers / Q000201:enzymology; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000201:enzymology; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000294:innervation
D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase