title: Expression of neurotrophins and Trk receptors in the developing, adult, and regenerating avian cochlea.
abstract: We studied the expression of neurotrophins and their Trk receptors in the chicken cochlea. Based on in situ hybridization, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is the major neurotrophin there, in contrast to the mammalian cochlea, where neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) predominates. NT-3 mRNA labeling was weak and found only during a short time period in the early cochleas. During embryogenesis, BDNF mRNA was first seen in early differentiating hair cells. Afferent cochlear neurons expressed trkB mRNA from the early stages of gangliogenesis onward. In accordance, in vitro, BDNF promoted survival of dissociated neurons and stimulated neuritogenesis from ganglionic explants. High levels of BDNF mRNA in hair cells and trkB mRNA in cochlear neurons persisted in the mature cochlea. In addition, mRNA for the truncated TrkB receptor was expressed in nonneuronal cells, specifically in supporting cells, located adjacent to the site of BDNF synthesis and nerve endings. Following acoustic trauma, regenerated hair cells acquired BDNF mRNA expression at early stages of differentiation. Truncated trkB mRNA was lost from supporting cells that regenerated into hair cells. High levels of BDNF mRNA persisted in surviving hair cells and trkB mRNA in cochlear neurons after noise exposure. These results suggest that in the avian cochlea, peripheral target-derived BDNF contributes to the onset and maintenance of hearing function by supporting neuronal survival and regulating the (re)innervation process. Truncated TrkB receptors may regulate the BDNF concentration available to neurites, and they might have an important role during reinnervation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pirvola
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hallböök
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xing-Qun
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Virkkala
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saarma
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ylikoski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001489:Basilar Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D003051:Cochlea / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016501:Neurites / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020801:Receptor, Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D020812:Receptor, trkC; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020801:Receptor, Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D020812:Receptor, trkC