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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 i...

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Autores principales: Li, Hao, Staxäng, Karin, Hodik, Monika, Melkersson, Karl-Gunnar, Rask-Andersen, Helge
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9986273/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36891513
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2023.1129074
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author Li, Hao
Staxäng, Karin
Hodik, Monika
Melkersson, Karl-Gunnar
Rask-Andersen, Helge
author_facet Li, Hao
Staxäng, Karin
Hodik, Monika
Melkersson, Karl-Gunnar
Rask-Andersen, Helge
author_sort Li, Hao
collection PubMed
description 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.
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spelling pubmed-99862732023-03-07 The ultrastructure of a stria vascularis in the auditory organ of the cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer) Li, Hao Staxäng, Karin Hodik, Monika Melkersson, Karl-Gunnar Rask-Andersen, Helge Front Cell Dev Biol Cell and Developmental Biology 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. Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-02-20 /pmc/articles/PMC9986273/ /pubmed/36891513 http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2023.1129074 Text en Copyright © 2023 Li, Staxäng, Hodik, Melkersson and Rask-Andersen. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
spellingShingle Cell and Developmental Biology
Li, Hao
Staxäng, Karin
Hodik, Monika
Melkersson, Karl-Gunnar
Rask-Andersen, Helge
The ultrastructure of a stria vascularis in the auditory organ of the cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer)
title The ultrastructure of a stria vascularis in the auditory organ of the cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer)
title_full The ultrastructure of a stria vascularis in the auditory organ of the cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer)
title_fullStr The ultrastructure of a stria vascularis in the auditory organ of the cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer)
title_full_unstemmed The ultrastructure of a stria vascularis in the auditory organ of the cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer)
title_short The ultrastructure of a stria vascularis in the auditory organ of the cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer)
title_sort ultrastructure of a stria vascularis in the auditory organ of the cuban crocodile (crocodylus rhombifer)
topic Cell and Developmental Biology
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9986273/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36891513
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2023.1129074
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