Acid-sensing ion channel-1 b in the stereocilia of mammalian cochlear hair cells

我们研究了amiloride可阻断的质子门控阳离子通道asic1a（酸感离子通道1a）和asic1b是否在小鼠耳蜗毛细胞的立体纤毛中表达。原位杂交研究表明，ASIC1b转录本在内毛细胞和外毛细胞中表达，而ASlC1 a转录本不表达。荧光免疫组织化学和免疫金电镜分析显示ASIC1b通道位于毛细胞的立体纤毛插入处。我们的发现为理解耳蜗生理和病理生理提供了新的分子关键。

We investigated whether amiloride-blockable proton-gated cation channels ASIC1 a (acid-sensing ion channel-1 a) and ASIC1 b are expressed in the stereocilia of mouse cochlear hair cells. In situ hybridization studies showed that ASIC1b transcripts, but not ASlC1 a transcripts, were expressed in the inner and outer hair cells. Fluorescent immunohistochemical and immunogold electron microscopic analyses revealed that the ASIC1b channels were located at the insertions of the stereocilia into the hair cells. Our findings provide a novel molecular key to the understanding of cochlear physiology and pathophysiology.