title: Tracing neurotrophin-3 diffusion and uptake in the guinea pig cochlea.
abstract: Neurotrophin therapy in the cochlea can potentially slow or reverse the degeneration of the auditory nerve that occurs during progressive deafness. Studies were performed to trace the diffusion and uptake of neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) following infusion into the cochlea. NT-3 labeled with (125)I or coated onto fluorescent microspheres was introduced into the basal turn of normal hearing and deafened guinea pig cochleae via a single slow-rate injection. Cochleae were examined between 2 h and 28 days post-infusion by autoradiography or fluorescent microscopy to determine the number of turns labeled by NT-3, identify individual cells and tissues receiving NT-3 and quantify the proportion of signal in each tissue. In general, long-term infusions were required for all cochlear turns to receive NT-3. (125)I NT-3 signal was strongest in cells lining the perilymphatic space of the scala tympani, basilar membrane, osseous spiral lamina and spiral ligament. Signal in the peripheral nerve tract and Rosenthal's canal was only 1.3-2.1 times background levels of radiation. NT-3 microspheres were detected within neural areas of the cochlea (nerve tract and Rosenthal's canal) in all cases, but not within neuronal cell bodies. NT-3 microspheres remained in the cochlea for at least 28 days, suggesting a low clearance rate within cochlear tissues.
authors.affiliation: The Bionic Ear Institute, 384-388 Albert Street, East Melbourne 3002, Australia. rrichardson@bionicear.org
authors.forename: Rachael T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wise
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hardman
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Casley
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001345:Autoradiography; D003051:Cochlea / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism*; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000378:metabolism*; D003720:Densitometry; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008863:Microspheres; D020933:Neurotrophin 3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012533:Scala Tympani / Q000378:metabolism; D013136:Spiral Ganglion / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D020933:Neurotrophin 3