title: E-cadherin in the mature and developing organ of Corti of the mouse.
abstract: The reticular lamina of the mammalian cochlea is formed by the tightly joined apical surfaces of hair cells and supporting cells. This lamina creates a barrier separating endolymph and perilymph, two fluids of different composition. The preservation of this fluid barrier is a requirement of cochlear function. This study aimed to determine whether the calcium-dependent, cell adhesion molecule, E-cadherin was appropriately placed both temporally and spatially to contribute to the formation and maintenance of the reticular lamina. Cochleas aged E15 to P31 were stained immunocytochemically for E-cadherin. In the P31 organ of Corti, E-cadherin is localized to the apical intercellular junctions of supporting cells, but is absent from supporting cell-hair cell borders. During development, E-cadherin is present only on the apices and lateral edges of those cells which will eventually lie adjacent to fluid spaces--pillar, outer hair and Deiters cells. The molecule disappears from the lateral cell membranes at about the time in development that fluid spaces form. These data suggest that E-cadherin plays a role in maintaining the reticular lamina by mediating inter-supporting cell adhesion and raise the possibility that fluid space opening in the organ of Corti is facilitated by the down-regulation or redistribution of E-cadherin.
authors.affiliation: Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53705.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Whitlon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009925:Organ of Corti / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins