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Published on: June 9, 2017
Expression patterns of the ADAMs in early developing chicken cochlea
Juntang Lin1, Xin Yan, Congrui Wang
1Key Laboratory for Medical Tissue Regeneration of Henan Province, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang City, 453003, Henan, China.
Development, Growth & Differentiation
|March 19, 2013
Summary
Members of the ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) family are crucial for early cochlear development. This study reveals specific ADAM gene expression patterns in the developing cochlea, highlighting their regulatory roles.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Molecular biology
- Genetics
Background:
- ADAMs (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) are type I transmembrane proteins.
- They are involved in proteolysis, cell adhesion, cell-matrix interaction, and intracellular signaling.
- Their role in early cochlear development is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression patterns of seven ADAM family members during early cochlear development.
- To determine the specific roles of ADAMs in the developing cochlea.
Main Methods:
- In situ hybridization was used to examine gene expression.
- Expression patterns were analyzed at various embryonic time points (E2.5, E4, E7, E9).
Main Results:
- Each investigated ADAM member showed distinct expression and regulation in the developing cochlea.
- ADAM9, ADAM10, ADAM17, and ADAM23 were widely expressed in the otic vesicle and cochlear duct.
- ADAM12, ADAM22 showed specific expression in acoustic ganglion cells and basilar papilla.
Conclusions:
- ADAMs are expressed and regulated during early cochlear development.
- These findings suggest a significant role for ADAMs in the intricate processes of cochlear formation.
Related Concept Videos
01:13The Cochlea
The cochlea is a coiled structure in the inner ear that contains hair cells—the sensory receptors of the auditory system. Sound waves are transmitted to the cochlea by small bones attached to the eardrum called the ossicles, which vibrate the oval window that leads to the inner ear. This causes fluid in the chambers of the cochlea to move, vibrating the basilar membrane.
01:22Hair Cells
Hair cells are the sensory receptors of the auditory system—they transduce mechanical sound waves into electrical energy that the nervous system can understand. Hair cells are located in the organ of Corti within the cochlea of the inner ear, between the basilar and tectorial membranes. The actual sensory receptors are called inner hair cells. The outer hair cells serve other functions, such as sound amplification in the cochlea, and are not discussed in detail here.
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During embryogenesis, cells become progressively committed to different fates through a two-step process: specification followed by determination. Specification is demonstrated by removing a segment of an early embryo, “neutrally” culturing the tissue in vitro—for example, in a petri dish with simple medium—and then observing the derivatives. If the cultured region gives rise to cell types that it would normally generate in the embryo, this means that it is specified. In contrast, determination...