title: Downregulation of Cav1.3 calcium channel expression in the cochlea is associated with age-related hearing loss in C57BL/6J mice.
abstract: Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is the most common human morbidity. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying ARHL are little known. In the present study, the expression of Ca(v)1.3 calcium channels in the C57BL/6J ARHL mouse cochlea was investigated. The hearing threshold was assessed by auditory brainstem response and the expressions of Ca(v)1.3.3 calcium channels at the protein and mRNA levels were detected by immunohistochemistry, western blot, and real-time RT-PCR. Associated with the auditory brainstem response threshold increased with age, the Ca(v)1.3.3 expression was gradually decreased. In comparison with 4-week-old mice, Ca(v)1.3.3 expressions in the cochlea at 14, 24, and 48 weeks of age were significantly and gradually decreased at both the protein and the mRNA levels. Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of Ca(v)1.3.3 was apparently reduced at the inner hair cells, outer hair cells, and stria vascularis in the cochlear lateral wall in the aged mice. Our findings indicate that Ca(v)1.3.3 calcium channel expression in the cochlea is reduced in the ARHL mice and is associated with ARHL. The data also support a view that Ca(v)1.3.3 calcium channel is a good target for prevention and therapy of ARHL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji, People's Republic of 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: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Xiaowen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Liangqiang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Qingguo
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bing
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shaoli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yonghua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D003051:Cochlea / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006199:Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner / Q000378:metabolism; D018072:Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009925:Organ of Corti / Q000378:metabolism; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013316:Stria Vascularis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C485995:Cacna1d protein, mouse; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D012333:RNA, Messenger