MOLECULAR MECHANISMS IN HEARING

这项研究将在分子水平上研究耳蜗生物学。 水平。它将专注于几个小分子[胺，如Unk 2.5 和谷氨酸]在豚鼠的耳蜗中发现。假设是 测试的结果是，这些小分子在耳蜗处有功能 来自新陈代谢。基于这样的假设，这些分子的水平在 耳蜗胞外间隙(外淋巴)反映了某些细胞 活动，那么它就会得出支持或反对各种 细胞活动，可以通过测定 不同处理下外淋巴室中的分子。 这将通过确定：(1) 利用电离质谱仪等技术的分子；以及 (2)治疗，如暴露在强烈的声音中 传出，这可能改变外淋巴液中这些分子的水平。 这些实验扩展了前一次拨款期间的发现。这些 问题很重要，因为分子可能在细胞内发挥作用 损伤和听力损失。

This research will investigate the biology of the cochlea at the molecular level. It will focus on several small molecules [amines such as Unk 2.5 and glutamate] found in the cochlea of guinea pig. The hypothesis to be tested is that these small molecules have functions in the cochlea, aside from metabolic. Based on the premise that the levels of these molecules in the extracellular space of the cochlea (perilymph) reflect certain cellular activities, then it follows then that evidence for or against various cellular activities, can be obtained by determining the concentrations of the molecules in the perilymph compartment under different treatments. This will be accomplished by determining: (1) the identity of the molecules utilizing techniques such as ionization mass spectrometry; and (2) treatments, such as exposure to intense sound the sectioning the efferents, which may alter the levels of these molecules int he perilymph. The experiments extend discoveries made during the previous grant. These questions are important because the molecules may have a role in cellular damage and hearing loss.