title: Molecular organization and fine structure of the human tectorial membrane: is it replenished?
abstract: Auditory sensitivity and frequency resolution depend on the physical properties of the basilar membrane in combination with outer hair cell-based amplification in the cochlea. The physiological role of the tectorial membrane (TM) in hair cell transduction has been controversial for decades. New insights into the TM structure and function have been gained from studies of targeted gene disruption. Several missense mutations in genes regulating the human TM structure have been described with phenotypic expressions. Here, we portray the remarkable gradient structure and molecular organization of the human TM. Ultrastructural analysis and confocal immunohistochemistry were performed in freshly fixed human cochleae obtained during surgery. Based on these findings and recent literature, we discuss the role of human TMs in hair cell activation. Moreover, the outcome proposes that the α-tectorin-positive amorphous layer of the human TM is replenished and partly undergoes regeneration during life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Head and Neck Surgery, section of Otolaryngology, Uppsala University Hospital, SE-751 85, Uppsala, Sweden. hisamitsu.hayashi@surgsci.uu.se.|Department of Otolaryngology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, Gifu, 501-1194, Japan. hisamitsu.hayashi@surgsci.uu.se.
authors.forename: Hisamitsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria. annelies.schrott@i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: Annelies
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schrott-Fischer
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria. rudolf.glueckert@i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Glueckert
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Section of Otolaryngology, Uppsala University Hospital, SE-751 85, Uppsala, Sweden. lwoo24@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria. willi.salvenmoser@uibk.ac.at.
authors.forename: Willi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Salvenmoser
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Minnesota, Lions Research Building, 2001 Sixth St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA. psanti@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Santi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Head and Neck Surgery, section of Otolaryngology, Uppsala University Hospital, SE-751 85, Uppsala, Sweden. helge.rask-andersen@akademiska.se.
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rask-Andersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006199:Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059547:Stereocilia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013680:Tectorial Membrane / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; C491350:TECTA protein, human
keywords: Electron microscopy; Human; Tectorial membrane; α-tectorin