title: Expression patterns of Ca(V)1.3 channels in the rat cochlea.
abstract: Although Ca(V)1.3 channels are known to be essential for neuronal excitation and signal transduction in the auditory system, their expression patterns in the cochlea are still not fully understood, particularly in the regions where non-sensory cells are located. We performed immunohistochemistry, western blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to identify the expression and distribution of Ca(V)1.3 channels in the rat cochlea. Immunohistochemistry revealed that Ca(V)1.3 channels were localized in the outer hair cells (OHCs), inner hair cells (IHCs), limbus laminae spiralis, spiral ganglion cell, spiral ligament (SL), and stria vascularis (STV). The results of RT-PCR and western blotting demonstrated Ca(V)1.3 channels had a tissue-specific expression pattern. Ca(V)1.3 mRNA and protein were intensively expressed in the basilar membrane and spiral ganglion while moderate level of Ca(V)1.3 channels was observed in SL and STV. Our study preliminarily revealed the expression patterns of Ca(V)1.3 channels in the rat cochlea, providing a theoretical basis for further research on the role of Ca(V)1.3 channels in the periphery auditory system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery,  Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030,  China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hanqi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Qingguo
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Liangqiang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bing
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Shaoli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiaowen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yonghua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003051:Cochlea / Q000378:metabolism*; D006199:Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013136:Spiral Ganglion / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D012333:RNA, Messenger