Expression of FGF-R and TGF-R in the Lateral Wall of the Guinea Pig / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The endolymph produced from cochlear lateral wall regulates fluid balance and maintains positive endocochlear potentials. Although many immunohistochemical studies on ion transport enzymes have been reported, their mechanisms are still not completely understood. And there are no reports on the distribution of receptor tyrosine kinases in the cochlear lateral wall of the guinea pig. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the expression of the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) and transforming growth factor receptor-beta (TGFR-beta, type II) in the lateral wall of the guinea pig cochlea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the immunohistochemical localization of the receptor tyrosine kinases (FGFR, TGFR-beta) in the lateral wall of the Preyer's positive, pigmented guinea pig. RESULTS: The results showed that receptor tyrosine kinases were expressed in the cytoplasm of the marginal cells, intermediate cells in the stria vascularis, and type II, III, IV, and V fibrocytes, but not the basal cells and type I fibrocytes, in the lateral wall of the guinea pig. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that receptor tyrosine kinases are involved in the various ion transports and that they participate in the PLC-IP(3) second messenger system.