Dark-cell areas in the dog vestibular endorgans: an immunohistochemical study.

The stria vascularis in the cochlea and the dark-cell areas in the vestibular endorgans are structures involved in the production of endolymphatic fluid. This study investigated the dark-cell areas in the vestibular endorgans of the dog by classical staining and by immunohistochemistry (anti-Na,K-ATPase beta2 isoform, anti-cytokeratins (against cytokeratins 5 and 8), anti-vimentin and anti-S100A6) from birth to 110 postnatal days. Using classical staining, it was not possible to discriminate dark cells from other epithelial cells lining the vestibular endolymphatic spaces. From birth, the Na,K-ATPase beta2 isoform was expressed in the lateral and basal cell membranes of a subset of cells located in the utricular wall, at the base of the cristae ampullaris and was identified as dark cells. From birth, anti-cytokeratins labelled all the cells forming the epithelial lining, including the dark cells, while anti-vimentin labelled the underlying mesenchymal cells. From postnatal day 10, anti-S100A6 labelled subepithelial cells exclusively located underneath the dark-cell areas and were identified as vestibular melanocyte-like cells. From birth, Fontana staining evidenced fine melanin granules in the subepithelial layer. The amount of melanin granules increased during the first month. Melanin distribution was closely associated with the region where S100A6-positive cells were located. The cell-specific antigen expression in the dog dark-cell areas was clearly comparable to that of the dog stria vascularis previously described. The present investigation also suggested an earlier histological and immunohistological maturity in the dark-cell areas than in the stria vascularis of dogs. This preliminary morphological description of the normal dark-cell areas in dogs by means of immunomarkers may be instrumental in studying pathological processes involving the fluid-secreting structures in vestibular endorgans.

Inner ear morphology in a bilaterally deaf Dogo Argentino pup.

Two bilaterally deaf and three unilaterally deaf pups were identified from a litter of 10 Dogo Argentino pups presented for hearing evaluation by electrophysiological investigation. One pup, a bilaterally deaf female aged 43 days, was available for histopathology. Examination of both inner ears revealed bilateral cochlear degeneration with atrophy of the stria vascularis, collapse of the cochlear duct, degeneration of the organ of Corti, and abnormal tectorial membrane. The left vestibule, including the sacculus, was normal. The spiral and vestibular ganglia were essentially normal. This is the first histopathological description of lesions associated with deafness in a Dogo Argentino, but abnormalities were similar to those previously described in deaf Dalmatian pups and in other white hair-coated breeds. The defect was classified as a cochleosaccular degeneration. It was probably congenital and genetic causes were suspected.

An original inner ear neuroepithelial degeneration in a deaf Rottweiler puppy.

Histopathological investigation was conducted on both inner ears from a 4.5-month-old Rottweiler puppy with electrophysiologically confirmed bilateral deafness. The lesions were restricted to the organ of Corti and spiral ganglion that both displayed severe degenerative changes. The outer hair cells were less affected than the inner hair cells. The number of spiral ganglion neurons was reduced, and remaining neurons were altered. The basal and middle cochlear turns were more affected than the apical one. The vestibules were normal. Immunostaining with calbindin, calretinin, S100A1 and S100A6 polyclonal antisera was helpful in identifying different cell-types in the degenerated cochlea. The early and severe spiral ganglion cell degeneration is an uncommon finding no matter the species. Such lesions bear significance within the frame of cochlear implants technology for deaf infants.

Immunolocalization of the calcium binding S100A1, S100A5 and S100A6 proteins in the dog cochlea during postnatal development.

The immunolocalization of three members of the S100 calcium-binding protein family was investigated in the dog cochlea during normal postnatal development. Sections of decalcified and paraffin-embedded cochleae from 16 beagle puppies aged from birth to 3 months were treated with polyclonal antisera raised against the human recombinant S100A1, S100A5, and S100A6 proteins. At birth, in the dog cochlea, S100A1 was expressed in the immature Deiter's cells, and slightly in the pillar cells. From the second week, S100A1 was detected in the supporting structures of the organ of Corti, i.e. the Deiter's, the pillar, the border, and the Hensen's cells, and in the reticular membrane. From birth onwards, S100A5 remained a neuronal-specific protein, only located in a subpopulation of neurons in the spiral ganglion. S100A6 was not expressed at birth. From the second week of life, the Schwann cells and nerve sheaths in the modiolus, in the spiral ganglion, and running in the direction of the organ of Corti exhibited S100A6-labeling. From the 12th postnatal day, some scattered intermediate cells started to express S100A6 protein in the stria vascularis. The number of labeled intermediate cells increased during the third week. At adult stage, the intermediate cells were S100A6-stained with cytoplasmic labeling throughout the stria vascularis from the base to the apex of the cochlea. None of the other cochlear structures expressed the S100 proteins under study during the postnatal development of the dog cochlea. The S100A1, S100A5, S100A6 immunostaining was limited to specific cell types in dog cochlea. These S100 proteins were useful markers in the study of supporting cells, neurons, nerve fibers sheaths and stria vascularis (S100A6) during the normal postnatal development of the dog cochlea.

Maturation of the auditory system in clinically normal puppies as reflected by the brain stem auditory-evoked potential wave V latency-intensity curve and rarefaction-condensation differential potentials.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate auditory maturation in puppies. ANIMALS: Ten clinically normal Beagle puppies. PROCEDURE: Puppies were examined repeatedly from days 11 to 36 after birth (8 measurements). Click-evoked brain stem auditory-evoked potentials (BAEP) were obtained in response to rarefaction and condensation click stimuli from 90 dB normal hearing level to wave V threshold, using steps of 10 dB. Responses were added, providing an equivalent to alternate polarity clicks, and subtracted, providing the rarefaction-condensation differential potential (RCDP). Steps of 5 dB were used to determine thresholds of RCDP and wave V. Slope of the low-intensity segment of the wave V latency-intensity curve was calculated. The intensity range at which RCDP could not be recorded (ie, pre-RCDP range) was calculated by subtracting the threshold of wave V from threshold of RCDP RESULTS: Slope of the wave V latency-intensity curve low-intensity segment evolved with age, changing from (mean +/- SD) -90.8 +/- 41.6 to -27.8 +/- 4.1 micros/dB. Similar results were obtained from days 23 through 36. The pre-RCDP range diminished as puppies became older, decreasing from 40.0 +/- 7.5 to 20.5 +/- 6.4 dB. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Changes in slope of the latency-intensity curve with age suggest enlargement of the audible range of frequencies toward high frequencies up to the third week after birth. Decrease in the pre-RCDP range may indicate an increase of the audible range of frequencies toward low frequencies. Age-related reference values will assist clinicians in detecting hearing loss in puppies.

Immunolocalization of calbindin D28k and calretinin in the dog cochlea during postnatal development.

The calbindin (CB) and the calretinin (CR) immunoreactivities were studied in the dog cochlea during its postnatal maturation from birth to the 33rd postnatal day. At birth, CB was expressed in the Kölliker's organ, in the immature inner (IHC) and outer hair cells (OHC), in neurons of the spiral ganglion, and in nerve fibers running in the basilar membrane of the apical turn. During the cochlear maturation, non-sensorineuronal structures, such as the Kölliker's organ, the rods of Corti, and the inner sulcus cells, displayed a transient CB-staining. In the adult-like dog cochlea, CB was found in the cytoplasm, the cuticular plate, and the stereocilia of the IHC and OHC. All the neurons of the spiral ganglion and some nerves fibers in the modulius were CB-positive. At birth, CR exhibited a neuronal distribution: about 75% of the spiral ganglion neurons, some nerve fibers in the modulius and nerve fibers running in the basilar membrane were CR-labeled. During the postnatal maturation, a CR-immunostaining appeared around the IHC body and CR was expressed transiently in the OHC. In the adult-like dog cochlea, a CR-positive network surrounded the unlabeled IHC. The neuronal CR-labeling remained unchanged from birth.

Bilateral deafness in a maltese terrier and a great pyrenean puppy: inner ear morphology.

Two puppies, a 4-month-old female Maltese terrier and a 6-week-old male Great Pyrenean, were presented for confirmation of bilateral deafness by electrophysiological testing. In both puppies, brainstem auditory potentials were not evoked by 90 dB NHL click stimulation of each ear. Examination of the inner ear revealed a bilateral cochleo-saccular degeneration in both animals. The lesions were characterized by generalized atrophy of the stria vascularis, collapse of the cochlear duct, degeneration of the organ of Corti, an abnormal tectorial membrane, and saccular collapse, with a normal spiral ganglion. The cochlear duct was entirely obliterated throughout the cochleae in the Maltese terrier puppy, but was locally and asymmetrically affected in the Great Pyrenean. The abnormalities observed in the Maltese terrier puppy were identical with those previously described in deaf Dalmatian puppies; the lesions observed in the Great Pyrenean, however, were less typical. This is the first histopathological description of cochleo-saccular degeneration in the Maltese terrier and Great Pyrenean breeds. In both puppies the defect was probably congenital.