Neurotransmission in the human labyrinth.
Different neuroactive substances have been found in the efferent pathways of both the olivocochlear and vestibular systems. In the present study, the distribution and role of three neurotransmitters, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), and enkephalin were investigated in the human labyrinth of 4 normal-hearing individuals. Immunohistochemical studies in human inner ear research, however, face a problem of procuring well-preserved specimens with maintained neurotransmitter antigenicity and morphology. Methods and findings are reported and discussed.
Schrott-Fischer
Anneliese
A
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Innsbruck, Austria. Annelies.Schrott@uibk.ac.at
Kammen-Jolly
Keren
K
Scholtz
Arne W
AW
Kong
Wei-jia
WJ
Eybalin
Michel
M
D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000378:metabolism; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009476:Neurons, Efferent / Q000502:physiology; D009925:Organ of Corti / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013136:Spiral Ganglion / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D004745:Enkephalins; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase