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Related Experiment Videos

Round window membrane in young and aged C57BL/6 mice.

Yoko Kitamura1, Masa aki Teranishi, Michihiko Sone

  • 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nagoya University, Graduate School of Medicine, 65, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, 466-8550, Nagoya, Japan. kitayoko@tsuru.med.nagoya-u.ac.jp

Hearing Research
|November 16, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Aging causes significant changes in the round window membrane (RWM), including thinning and degeneration of elastic fibers. These findings highlight age-related RWM alterations, impacting auditory health.

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Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Gerontology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • The round window membrane (RWM) plays a crucial role in cochlear mechanics.
  • Limited research exists on age-related morphological changes in the RWM.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the morphological alterations of the RWM in aged mice compared to young mice.
  • To characterize age-associated changes in RWM structure and composition.

Main Methods:

  • Morphological analysis of RWMs from young (7-8 weeks) and aged (27-29 months) C57BL/6 mice.
  • Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to examine elastic fiber degeneration.
  • Confocal laser microscopy with FITC-wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) staining to assess fiber changes.

Main Results:

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  • Aged RWMs were significantly thinner than those in young mice.
  • Reduced cell density was observed in the epithelial and inner layers of aged RWMs.
  • TEM revealed degenerated, short, and thick elastic fibers in the middle layer of aged RWMs, similar to aging skin.

Conclusions:

  • Aging leads to significant thinning and cellular changes in the RWM.
  • Degeneration of elastic fibers in the RWM middle layer is a key feature of aging.
  • These RWM changes associated with aging may have implications for auditory function.