Expression of endothelin receptor subtypes in the spiral ganglion neurons of the guinea pig.
OBJECTIVE
Endothelin 1 has many biological activities including regulating the functions of auditory system. The present study aimed to investigate the expression of the endothelin receptors in spiral ganglion neurons and its significance in the auditory transmission.


METHODS
The cochleae of healthy guinea pigs were fixed, decalcified, embedded in paraffin and serially sectioned. The expression of endothelin receptor subunits, ET receptor A (ET-A) and ET receptor B (ET-B), was examined in the spiral ganglion neurons of guinea pig using immunohistochemical technique.


RESULTS
Different degrees of ET-A and ET-B positive reactivity appeared in all spiral ganglion neurons from the basal turn to the apical turn.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the suggestion that endothelin via the endothelin receptor may play a physiological role in the spiral ganglion neurons.
Xu
Ding-Yuan
DY
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Nanjing, University, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210002, China.
Wu
Bo
B
Li
Zhe-Qin
ZQ
Wang
Qiu-Ping
QP
Zhang
Yong
Y
Xue
Fei
F
Ji
Jun-Feng
JF
D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D021381:Protein Transport; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013136:Spiral Ganglion / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014132:Trachea / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D019332:Endothelin-1; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B