title: Noise Stress Induces an Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor/Xeroderma Pigmentosum-A Response in the Auditory Nerve.
abstract: In response to toxic stressors, cancer cells defend themselves by mobilizing one or more epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) cascades that employ xeroderma pigmentosum-A (XPA) to repair damaged genes. Recent experiments discovered that neurons within the auditory nerve exhibit basal levels of EGFR+XPA co-expression. This finding implied that auditory neurons in particular or neurons in general have the capacity to mobilize an EGFR+XPA defense. Therefore, the current study tested the hypothesis that noise stress would alter the expression pattern of EGFR/XPA within the auditory nerve. Design-based stereology was used to quantify the proportion of neurons that expressed EGFR, XPA, and EGFR+XPA with and without noise stress. The results revealed an intricate neuronal response that is suggestive of alterations to both co-expression and individual expression of EGFR and XPA. In both the apical and middle cochlear coils, the noise stress depleted EGFR+XPA expression. Furthermore, there was a reduction in the proportion of neurons that expressed XPA-alone in the middle coils. However, the noise stress caused a significant increase in the proportion of neurons that expressed EGFR-alone in the middle coils. The basal cochlear coils failed to mobilize a significant response to the noise stress. These results suggest that EGFR and XPA might be part of the molecular defense repertoire of the auditory nerve.
authors.affiliation: Cell & Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona (OWG).|Research Service-151, Loma Linda Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Loma Linda, California (OWG).|Department of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California (OWG).
authors.forename: O'neil W
authors.initials: OW
authors.lastname: Guthrie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009622:Noise; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D013136:Spiral Ganglion / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D051760:Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group A Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051760:Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group A Protein; D066246:ErbB Receptors
keywords: audiology; hearing; sensorineural; spiral ganglion