The ultrastructure of a stria vascularis in the auditory organ of the cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer).

Background: An endocochlear potential (EP) exists in the mammalian cochlea generated by the stria vascularis and an associated fibrocyte network. It plays an essential role for sensory cell function and hearing sensitivity. In non-mammalian ectothermic animals the endocochlear potential is low and its origin somewhat unclear. In this study, we explored the crocodilian auditory organ and describe the fine structure of a stria vascularis epithelium that has not been verified in birds. Material and Methods: Three Cuban crocodiles (Crocodylus rhombifer) were analyzed with light and transmission electron microscopy. The ears were fixed in glutaraldehyde The temporal bones were drilled out and decalcified. The ears were dehydrated, and embedded and was followed by semi-thin and thin sectioning. Results: The fine structure of the crocodile auditory organ including the papilla basilaris and endolymph system was outlined. The upper roof of the endolymph compartment was specialized into a Reissner membrane and tegmentum vasculosum. At the lateral limbus an organized, multilayered, vascularized epithelium or stria vascularis was identified. Discussion: Electron microscopy demonstrates that the auditory organ in Crocodylus rhombifer, unlike in birds, contains a stria vascularis epithelium separate from the tegmentum vasculosum. It is believed to secrete endolymph and to generate a low grade endocochlear potential. It may regulate endolymph composition and optimize hearing sensitivity alongside the tegmentum vasculosum. It could represent a parallel evolution essential for the adaptation of crocodiles to their diverse habitats.

Expression of prosaposin and its G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 37 in mouse cochlear and vestibular nuclei.

Prosaposin is a precursor of lysosomal hydrolases activator proteins, saposins, and also acts as a secretory protein that is not processed into saposins. Prosaposin elicits neurotrophic function via G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 37, and prosaposin deficiency causes abnormal vestibuloauditory end-organ development. In this study, immunohistochemistry was used to examine prosaposin and GPR37 expression patterns in the mouse cochlear and vestibular nuclei. Prosaposin immunoreactivity was observed in neurons and glial cells in both nuclei. GPR37 immunoreactivity was observed in only some neurons, and its immunoreactivity in the vestibular nucleus was weaker than that in the cochlear nucleus. This study suggests a possibility that prosaposin deficiency affects not only the end-organs but also the first center of the vestibuloauditory system.

Morphometric study of the vestibuloauditory organ of the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis.

Independent auditory end-organs appear first in amphibians in vertebrate phylogeny. In amphibians, sound detection is carried out by the amphibian papilla, basilar papilla and macula saccule. Amphibians inhabit distinct habitats and exhibit specific behaviours and sound frequency responses, so the amphibian vestibuloauditory system is an excellent model for considering the relationships between behaviour and physiological/anatomical vestibuloauditory properties. The African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, lives in shallow water throughout its life and is thought to use sound in a higher frequency range compared with terrestrial anurans. In this study, the size of each vestibuloauditory end-organ and the distribution of ganglion cells in the vestibuloauditory ganglion were examined using haematoxylin and eosin staining and lectin histochemistry in Xenopus laevis. This study revealed that the size ratios among end-organs in Xenopus are similar to those in terrestrial anurans. Large and small cells were observed in the ganglion, but their distribution patterns are different from those in general terrestrial anurans. Lycopersicon esculentum lectin stained a large number of ganglion cells. Lectin-stained cells were found throughout the whole ganglion, but were especially abundant in the caudal part. These results suggested a unique distribution pattern of the vestibuloauditory ganglion cells in Xenopus.

Otoacoustic Emissions in Non-Mammals.

Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) that were sound-induced, current-induced, or spontaneous have been measured in non-mammalian land vertebrates, including in amphibians, reptiles, and birds. There are no forms of emissions known from mammals that have not also been observed in non-mammals. In each group and species, the emission frequencies clearly lie in the range known to be processed by the hair cells of the respective hearing organs. With some notable exceptions, the patterns underlying the measured spectra, input-output functions, suppression threshold curves, etc., show strong similarities to OAE measured in mammals. These profound similarities are presumably traceable to the fact that emissions are produced by active hair-cell mechanisms that are themselves dependent upon comparable nonlinear cellular processes. The differences observed-for example, in the width of spontaneous emission peaks and delay times in interactions between peaks-should provide insights into how hair-cell activity is coupled within the organ and thus partially routed out into the middle ear.

Reirradiation for Rare Head and Neck Cancers: Orbit, Auditory Organ, and Salivary Glands.

We analyzed the efficacy and toxicity following reirradiation for locoregional recurrence of rare head and neck tumors. We retrospectively analyzed 17 patients who had received reirradiation for rare head and neck tumors. Primary tumor sites included nine ears (auditory organ), four salivary glands, and four orbits. The median follow-up time was 13.2 months for surviving patients. The median survival time was 12.6 months with one- and two-year survival rates of 53.1% and 44.3%, respectively. Nine out of 17 patients experienced local failure. The one- and two-year local control rates were 42.4% and 31.8%, respectively. The median survival times were 12.6, 5.3, and 11.0 months for orbit, auditory organ, and salivary glands, respectively. Three patients experienced grade 3 toxicity, including meningitis, brain necrosis, and facial nerve disorders. No grade ≥4 toxicities were observed. Reirradiation of rare head and neck tumors is feasible, with acceptable toxicity.

Effects of Cocarboxylase in Amikacin-Induced Ototoxicity in Immature Animals.

Possible otoprotective properties of cocarboxylase were studied on the model of amikacin-induced ototoxicity in immature rabbits. Auditory function was evaluated by the short-latency auditory brainstem response (ABR) and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) tests. Administration of cocarboxylase after modeling of amikacin-induced ototoxicity resulted in a decrease in the ABR peak I threshold and prevented damage to the outer hair cells.

Finite-element model of the active organ of Corti.

The cochlear amplifier that provides our hearing with its extraordinary sensitivity and selectivity is thought to be the result of an active biomechanical process within the sensory auditory organ, the organ of Corti. Although imaging techniques are developing rapidly, it is not currently possible, in a fully active cochlea, to obtain detailed measurements of the motion of individual elements within a cross section of the organ of Corti. This motion is predicted using a two-dimensional finite-element model. The various solid components are modelled using elastic elements, the outer hair cells (OHCs) as piezoelectric elements and the perilymph and endolymph as viscous and nearly incompressible fluid elements. The model is validated by comparison with existing measurements of the motions within the passive organ of Corti, calculated when it is driven either acoustically, by the fluid pressure or electrically, by excitation of the OHCs. The transverse basilar membrane (BM) motion and the shearing motion between the tectorial membrane and the reticular lamina are calculated for these two excitation modes. The fully active response of the BM to acoustic excitation is predicted using a linear superposition of the calculated responses and an assumed frequency response for the OHC feedback.

The research of IMRT plan optimization on dose limitation of sub regional auditory organ / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of reducing the auditory organ dose by limitation of sub regional auditory organ in IMRT plan. Methods Total 223 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients were divided into group A and group B. In group A, the IMRT plans of 114 patients were designed by limiting overall auditory organ dose. In group B, the IMRT plans of 109 patients were designed by limiting sub regional auditory organ dose. According to the Clinical prescription, the IMRT plans were designed. Paried t?test was difference between groups. Results By comparing the two groups of auditory organ dose, in all stages, the tympanic cavity Dmean average in group B decreased by T1 vs. 17?? 7%,T2 vs. 22?? 4%,T3 vs. 15?? 7% and T4 vs. 14?? 2% ( P= 0?? 000,0?? 000,0?? 000,0?? 000);cochlea Dmean average decreased by T1 vs. 11?? 0%, T2 vs. 20?? 1%, T3 vs. 10?? 0% and T4 vs. 9?? 0%(P= 0?? 004,0?? 000,0?? 007,0?? 036);vestibule Dmean average decreased by T1 vs. 22?? 6%, T2 vs. 31?? 8%, T3 vs. 20?? 6% and T4 vs. 21?? 4%, significantly less than in group A (P= 0?? 000,0?? 000,0?? 000,0?? 000). The bony portion of eustachian tube Dmean average in group B decreased were not significantly less than in group A (decreased by 3?? 4%,6?? 8%,3?? 6%,0?? 1%;P= 0?? 291, 0?? 006,0?? 155,0?? 963). Conclusions In IMRT plan, optimization on dose limitation of sub regional auditory organs were used to reduce the auditory organ dose and decrease the radiation damage to auditory organ.

Effects of dose limitation and increased protective weight on dose distribution in auditory organs during intensity-modulated radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective To investigate the protective effects of reducing average radiation dose and increasing protective weight on the auditory system (tympanic cavity,the bony portion of eustachian tube,vestibule,and cochlea) during intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods The planning system (ADAC Pinnacle3 8.0m) with direct machine parameter optimization was used to optimize the IMRT planning for 40 patients with NPC (stage Ⅰ + Ⅱ:20 patients ;stage Ⅲ + Ⅳ:20 patients).Without reducing the radiation dose for target volume,the IMRT planning was optimized by limiting the average dose administered to the auditory system or increasing the protective weight for the protected organs in auditory system.The protective effects were assessed by analyzing the average dose received by the auditory system.Results After limiting the average dose administered to the auditory system without reducing the radiation dose for target volume,the average dose received by the auditory system was significantly reduced (3855.5-5391.3 Gy vs 2960.3-4559.6 Gy,P =0.000 for all) ; when the protective weight for the auditory system was increased,the average dose received by the auditory system was even more reduced (3855.5-5391.3 Gy vs 2725.4-4271.4 Gy,P =0.000 for all).For all three regimens,the average dose was significantly higher in stage Ⅲ + Ⅳ patients than in stage Ⅰ + Ⅱ patients (P =0.000 for all).Conclusions For the IMRT planning for NPC,limiting the average dose administered to the auditory system can greatly reduce the average dose received by the auditory system,and increasing the protective weight for the auditory system can further reduce the average dose received by the auditory system.However,the protective effect on the auditory system may be reduced as the stage of NPC increases.