Abstract
Although it is known that mammalian otoconia consist of calcium bicarbonate and organic materials, none of the protein components have been identified in mammals at the molecular level, and the mechanisms of morphogenesis and calcification of the otoconia is still unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated the presence of osteopontin (OPN) in rat otoconia by using immunohistochemistry, and detected OPN mRNA in the sensory hair cells by a non-radioisotopic in situ hybridization technique. These results indicate that OPN is one of the protein components in rat otoconia and suggest that sensory hair cells are involved in the production of otoconia.
MeSH terms
-
Animals
-
Calcification, Physiologic / physiology
-
Cell Adhesion
-
Hair Cells, Auditory / chemistry
-
Hair Cells, Auditory / cytology
-
Immunohistochemistry
-
In Situ Hybridization
-
In Vitro Techniques
-
Morphogenesis / physiology
-
Osteopontin
-
Otolithic Membrane / chemistry*
-
Paraffin Embedding
-
Phosphoproteins / chemistry
-
Phosphoproteins / metabolism
-
RNA, Messenger / metabolism
-
Rats
-
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
-
Saccule and Utricle / chemistry
-
Saccule and Utricle / ultrastructure
-
Sialoglycoproteins / analysis*
-
Sialoglycoproteins / chemistry
-
Sialoglycoproteins / genetics
-
Tissue Fixation
Substances
-
Phosphoproteins
-
RNA, Messenger
-
Sialoglycoproteins
-
Spp1 protein, rat
-
Osteopontin