Cell cycle of transdifferentiating supporting cells in the basilar papilla

Mitosis of supporting cells has been shown to contribute to the cellular repopulation of the basilar papilla after acoustic trauma. In the present work we report data obtained with light and transmission electron microscopy after acoustic trauma in chicks. We report changes that occur in cell shape, surface morphology, intercellular junctions, nuclear shape and location, and cytoplasmic organization of supporting cells after trauma. The findings strongly suggest that supporting cells transdifferentiate and that the proliferative pattern is similar to interkinetic nuclear migration, as previously shown in the developing neural tube and basilar papilla. S-phase nuclei were positioned adjacent to the basement membrane, suggesting that interaction with the extracellular matrix may occur during the cell cycle. Supporting cells divided with the long axis of the spindle parallel to the reticular lamina and displayed no signs of intercellular communication during mitosis. This suggested to us that the fate of the progeny cells is determined prior to mitosis and that the progeny may be of identical phenotypic fate. Dividing cells had a smooth apical surface. The smooth surface may provide a marker to help identify dividing cells with scanning electron microscope analysis.