[Expression of substance P receptor positive cells in the Corti's organ with acute middle ear infection in guinea pigs].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of substance P receptor(SPR), SPR positive cells in the Corti's organ with acute middle ear infection in guinea pigs using the polyclonal antibody of SPR.


METHODS
Twelve healthy guinea pigs were employed in the experiment. After general anesthesia, by injecting 1 x 10(8)/L staphylococcosis aureus into the middle cavity of right ear with the left ear serving as control, the acute middle ear infection model was established. Then three days later, immunohistochemical staining of SPR was performed in the Cochlear base membrane preparation.


RESULTS
Microscopic examination of whole cochlear preparation revealed a number of SPR positive cells expression in the cochlear base membrane, these labeled cells usually did not exist in normal cochlear tissue. Obvious difference in morphology and distribution could be identified with inner hair cells, outer hair cells vascular endothelial cell and spiral ganglion neurons. Labeled SP receptor positive cells were similar to "neurons", scattering distributed in the free margin of cochlear base membrane, with larger size and multiple projections which was 6-12 times than the erythrocyte. There were the vesicle and granular substances in the cytoplasm of the labeled cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Acute middle ear infection could induce the expression of SP receptor positive nonspecific cells in the Corti's organ of guinea pigs. These cells did not exist in the normal base membrane and might participate in initiating or inducing the immune response of inner ear.
Qiu
Jian-hua
JH
Center of Otorhinolaryngology of Chinese PLA, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China. qiujh@fmmu.edu.cn
Liu
Shun-li
SL
Su
Yu
Y
Qiao
Li
L
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009925:Organ of Corti / Q000378:metabolism*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D011817:Rabbits; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000378:metabolism; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism
D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1; D013373:Substance P