Developmental changes in growth factors released by the embryonic inner ear

Abstract

Recent studies have demonstrated a role for neurotrophins in regulating the survival of developing auditory and vestibular neurons. However, the developmental time-course for neurotrophin production and release by inner ear tissues has not been defined. In the present study, neurotrophin-like activity was evaluated from culture medium conditioned by early- or midembryonic stage inner ears. Examination of the proteinaceous properties of conditioned medium revealed a developmental change in growth factor release by the inner ear. Neurotrophin-like molecules were not detected in medium conditioned by early stage otocysts. In contrast, neurotrophin-like bioactivity was detected in medium conditioned by middevelopmental stage inner ears. Western blot analysis revealed that NT-3 was released by the rat inner ear at midstages of inner ear development. ELISA measurements revealed that both NT-3 and BDNF are produced by the middevelopmental stage inner ear, and that NT-3 protein levels are higher than BDNF levels. These results suggest that there are developmental changes in the release of growth factors by the inner ear.

Publisher

Elsevier

Publication Date

3-1-1998

Publication Title

Experimental Neurology

Department

Neuroscience

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.1006/exnr.1997.6774

Keywords

Embryonic inner ear, Otocyst, Growth factors, Neurotrophin, Statoacoustic ganglion, Neuronal survival, Auditory, Vestibular

Language

English

Format

text

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