Reorganization of cytoskeletal and junctional proteins during cochlear hair cell degeneration

Abstract

Experiments were carried out to elucidate changes in cytoskeletal elements and intercellular junctions in the organ of Corti, when hair cells degenerate and phalangeal scars form. Hair cell damage was induced by exposing guinea pigs to high intensity noise. The spatial and temporal changes in the organization of micro-filaments, intermediate filaments, and tight junction-specific proteins were investigated using scanning and transmission electron microscopy and histochemistry. The results show that microfilaments, cytokeratins, adherens junctions, and tight junctions rearrange their distribution in damaged areas. From the temporal sequence of these changes it appears that phalangeal scars develop simultaneous with hair cell degeneration, and that the integrity of the luminal membranes in the organ of Corti is not interrupted. Each scar is formed by two supporting cells which expand and invade the sub-apical region of the dying hair cell. This region becomes cytokeratin-positive. The two supporting cells meet at the mid-line of the scar, where a new junctional complex is formed. The junctional complex consists of tight junction and adherens-type junction, but desmosomes are absent.