QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

The Journal of Neuroscience, March 23, 2005, 25(12):3041-3045; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5277-04.2005

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) An erratum has been published Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (12) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bao, J. Articles by Role, L. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bao, J. Articles by Role, L. W.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

BRIEF COMMUNICATION
Requirement of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Subunit 2 in the Maintenance of Spiral Ganglion Neurons during Aging

Jianxin Bao,¹ Debin Lei,¹ Yafei Du,¹ Kevin K. Ohlemiller,¹ Arthur L. Beaudet,² and Lorna W. Role³

¹Department of Otolaryngology, Center for Aging, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, ²Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, and ³Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032

Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is a major health concern for the elderly. Loss of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs), the primary sensory relay of the auditory system, is associated consistently with presbycusis. The causative molecular events responsible for age-related loss of SGNs are unknown. Recent reports directly link age-related neuronal loss in cerebral cortex with the loss of high-affinity nicotine acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). In cochlea, cholinergic synapses are made by olivocochlear efferent fibers on the outer hair cells that express 9 nAChR subunits and on the peripheral projections of SGNs that express 2, 4-7, and 2-3 nAChR subunits. A significantly decreased expression of the 2 nAChR subunit in SGNs was found specifically in mice susceptible to presbycusis. Furthermore, mice lacking the 2 nAChR subunit (2-/-), but not mice lacking the 5 nAChR subunit (5-/-), have dramatic hearing loss and significant reduction in the number of SGNs. Our findings clearly established a requirement for 2 nAChR subunit in the maintenance of SGNs during aging.

Key words: presbycusis; aging; hearing loss; nicotinic receptors; spiral ganglion neurons; neurodegeneration

---

Received Dec 27, 2004; accepted January 25, 2005.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. F. Maison, D. E. Vetter, and M. C. Liberman A Novel Effect of Cochlear Efferents: In Vivo Response Enhancement Does Not Require {alpha}9 Cholinergic Receptors J Neurophysiol, May 1, 2007; 97(5): 3269 - 3278. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. N. Darrow, S. F. Maison, and M. C. Liberman Selective Removal of Lateral Olivocochlear Efferents Increases Vulnerability to Acute Acoustic Injury J Neurophysiol, February 1, 2007; 97(2): 1775 - 1785. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. F. Maison, T. W. Rosahl, G. E. Homanics, and M. C. Liberman Functional Role of GABAergic Innervation of the Cochlea: Phenotypic Analysis of Mice Lacking GABAA Receptor Subunits {alpha}1, {alpha}2, {alpha}5, {alpha}6, beta2, beta3, or {delta} J. Neurosci., October 4, 2006; 26(40): 10315 - 10326. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Lang, B. A. Schulte, D. Zhou, N. Smythe, S. S. Spicer, and R. A. Schmiedt Nuclear factor kappaB deficiency is associated with auditory nerve degeneration and increased noise-induced hearing loss. J. Neurosci., March 29, 2006; 26(13): 3541 - 3550. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help