Abstract
Pericytes, mural cells located on microvessels, are considered to play an important role in the formation of the vasculature and the regulation of local blood flow in some organs. Little is known about the physiology of cochlear pericytes. In order to investigate the function of cochlear pericytes, we developed a method to visualize cochlear pericytes using diaminofluorescein-2 diacetate (DAF-2DA) and intravital fluorescence microscopy. This method can permit the study of the effect of vasoactive agents on pericytes under the in vivo and normal physiological condition. The specificity of the labeling method was verified by the immunofluorescence labeling of pericyte maker proteins such as desmin, neural proteoglycan (NG2), and thymocyte differentiation antigen 1 (Thy-1). Superfused K+ and Ca2+ to the cochlear lateral wall resulted in localized constriction of capillaries at pericyte locations both in vivo and in vitro, while there was no obvious change in cochlear capillary diameters with application of the adrenergic neurotransmitter noradrenaline. The method could be an effective way to visualize cochlear pericytes and microvessels and study lateral wall vascular physiology. Moreover, we demonstrate for the first time that cochlear pericytes have contractility, which may be important for regulation of cochlear blood flow.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 100-107 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Hearing Research |
| Volume | 254 |
| Issue number | 1-2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 11 2009 |
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Keywords
- Capillary of spiral ligament
- Cochlear pericyte
- Diaminofluorescein-2 diacetate (DAF-2DA)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Sensory Systems
Cite this
Visualization and contractile activity of cochlear pericytes in the capillaries of the spiral ligament. / Dai, Min; Nuttall, Alfred; Yang, Yue; Shi, Xiao.
In: Hearing Research, Vol. 254, No. 1-2, 11.08.2009, p. 100-107.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Visualization and contractile activity of cochlear pericytes in the capillaries of the spiral ligament
AU - Dai, Min
AU - Nuttall, Alfred
AU - Yang, Yue
AU - Shi, Xiao
PY - 2009/8/11
Y1 - 2009/8/11
N2 - Pericytes, mural cells located on microvessels, are considered to play an important role in the formation of the vasculature and the regulation of local blood flow in some organs. Little is known about the physiology of cochlear pericytes. In order to investigate the function of cochlear pericytes, we developed a method to visualize cochlear pericytes using diaminofluorescein-2 diacetate (DAF-2DA) and intravital fluorescence microscopy. This method can permit the study of the effect of vasoactive agents on pericytes under the in vivo and normal physiological condition. The specificity of the labeling method was verified by the immunofluorescence labeling of pericyte maker proteins such as desmin, neural proteoglycan (NG2), and thymocyte differentiation antigen 1 (Thy-1). Superfused K+ and Ca2+ to the cochlear lateral wall resulted in localized constriction of capillaries at pericyte locations both in vivo and in vitro, while there was no obvious change in cochlear capillary diameters with application of the adrenergic neurotransmitter noradrenaline. The method could be an effective way to visualize cochlear pericytes and microvessels and study lateral wall vascular physiology. Moreover, we demonstrate for the first time that cochlear pericytes have contractility, which may be important for regulation of cochlear blood flow.
AB - Pericytes, mural cells located on microvessels, are considered to play an important role in the formation of the vasculature and the regulation of local blood flow in some organs. Little is known about the physiology of cochlear pericytes. In order to investigate the function of cochlear pericytes, we developed a method to visualize cochlear pericytes using diaminofluorescein-2 diacetate (DAF-2DA) and intravital fluorescence microscopy. This method can permit the study of the effect of vasoactive agents on pericytes under the in vivo and normal physiological condition. The specificity of the labeling method was verified by the immunofluorescence labeling of pericyte maker proteins such as desmin, neural proteoglycan (NG2), and thymocyte differentiation antigen 1 (Thy-1). Superfused K+ and Ca2+ to the cochlear lateral wall resulted in localized constriction of capillaries at pericyte locations both in vivo and in vitro, while there was no obvious change in cochlear capillary diameters with application of the adrenergic neurotransmitter noradrenaline. The method could be an effective way to visualize cochlear pericytes and microvessels and study lateral wall vascular physiology. Moreover, we demonstrate for the first time that cochlear pericytes have contractility, which may be important for regulation of cochlear blood flow.
KW - Capillary of spiral ligament
KW - Cochlear pericyte
KW - Diaminofluorescein-2 diacetate (DAF-2DA)
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67649502880&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=67649502880&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.heares.2009.04.018
DO - 10.1016/j.heares.2009.04.018
M3 - Article
VL - 254
SP - 100
EP - 107
JO - Hearing Research
JF - Hearing Research
SN - 0378-5955
IS - 1-2
ER -