Melanin in the Inner Ear

Wolff, Dorothy

doi:10.1001/archotol.1931.00630020219009

Cited by 66 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…The distribution of melanocytes in the modiolus and vestibular partition agreed very well with that reported in other species (Wolff, 1931;Kimura, 1969;LaFerriere et al, 1974;Franz et al, 1990) and no difference was observed between the distribution of melanocytes in pigmented and albino animals. In contrast to the strial melanocytes, they showed the same character istics as skin melanocytes in both strains.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

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Distribution and features of melanocytes during inner ear development in pigmented and albino rats

et al. 1995

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In this developmental study, the distribution and features of melanocytes in the inner ear of pigmented and albino rats was investigated with the use of an antibody, which specifically reacts with a melanocyte differentiation antigen present in the membranes of (pre)melanosomes. Melanocyte precursors could be traced from 13 days post conception onwards and the course was followed to their targets in the inner ear. Melanocytes which settle in the modiolus appeared to reach their target along another pathway than striai and vestibular melanocytes. No difference was observed in the melanocyte distribution between pigmented and albino rats. The integration of melanocytes into the stria vascularis was associated with an increased rate of melanosome production in both strains, but in the albinos far fewer melanosomes were produced. After the stria had reached maturity, melanosome production was arrested and melanosomes were subject to lysosomal digestion. In the stria of the pigmented rats, cells with aggregations of disintegrating melanosomes appeared and persisted into adulthood. In the adult, the majority of the intermediate cells contained only a few scattered melanosomes, while melanosomes could only rarely be detected in the albinos.These observations indicate that there is a close relationship between melanosome production and the process of interdigita tion of melanocytes with the marginal cells. It seems unlikely that melanosomes or melanin make any important contribution to the function of the adult stria vascularis. Outside the stria, the features of melanocytes in both strains were similar to skin melanocytes.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…In the cochlea, pigmented cells are found near the vascular plexus of the modiolus (Wolff, 1931;Franz et al, 1990) and in the stria vascularis (Savin, 1965;Hilding and Ginzberg, 1977;W right and Lee, 1989;Conlee et al, 1989;Cable and Steel, 1991). In the latter structure, they represent the so-called interm ediate cells.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution and features of melanocytes during inner ear development in pigmented and albino rats

et al. 1995

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“…Known or suspected protective cellular functions of melanin include actions as a chelator of metals, binder of toxins, and an antioxidant (del Marmol and Beermann 1996;Riley 1997;Schraermeyer and Heimann 1999). In the inner ear, melanin is produced by intermediate cells of the stria vascularis (Wright and Lee 1989) but may also be widely distributed (Wolff 1931). In humans, lack of melanin, as indicated by skin or iris color, has been associated with greater hearing loss with age (Lin et al 2012) and more robust noise-induced temporary threshold shift (TTS) (Barrenäs and Lindgren 1991;Da Costa et al 2008).…”

Section: Lack Of Melanin Versus Lack Of Melanocytesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of Mouse Models to Research in Hearing and Balance

Ohlemiller

Jones

Johnson

2016

JARO

103

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Laboratory mice (Mus musculus) have become the major model species for inner ear research. The major uses of mice include gene discovery, characterization, and confirmation. Every application of mice is founded on assumptions about what mice represent and how the information gained may be generalized. A host of successes support the continued use of mice to understand hearing and balance. Depending on the research question, however, some mouse models and research designs will be more appropriate than others. Here, we recount some of the history and successes of the use of mice in hearing and vestibular studies and offer guidelines to those considering how to apply mouse models.

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“…Pigmentation in the inner ear was first observed by Corti [1851]; Wolff [1935] later identified this pigmentation as melanin. Melanocytes, which produce the melanin, derive from the neural crest and are necessary for the normal development of inner ear structures [Peters et al, 1995].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In vitro Isolation and Cell Culture of Vestibular Inner Ear Melanocytes

Hanke¹,

Kief

Leuwer³

et al. 2005

Audiol Neurotol

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Introduction: Melanocytes of the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear have been described morphologically in various contexts. Nature and functions of these cells are as yet not completely clear, even though several hypotheses exist regarding the same. The limited knowledge is due in part to a lack of methods regarding in vitro cell culture. The aim of this study was to describe conditions for the successful cell culture of vestibular inner ear melanocytes (VIEM), to compare their growth properties with those of epidermal melanocytes, and to characterize them immunohistochemically. Materials and Methods: Membranous labyrinth cells from freshly slaughtered sheep were isolated, and melanocytes and fibroblasts subsequently cultured. In addition, melanocytes from the skin of the same sheep were cultured. Antibodies specific to tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1/Mel-5), and melanoma-specific antigen A (Melan A) were used to analyze the cultured cells. Results: The proliferation of VIEM was retarded in comparison to epidermal melanocytes. After 14 days, VIEM began to proliferate for the first time, whereas epidermal melanocytes proliferated already after 7 days. In contrast to epidermal melanocytes, the culturing process of VIEM seemed to be dependent on the presence of fibroblasts, and VIEM often accumulated in the vicinity of fibroblasts forming three-dimensional clusters. Moreover, VIEM showed a higher ratio of highly pigmented cells with a round cell shape and small dendrites in comparison to epidermal melanocytes. Immunohistochemical techniques proved the VIEM to be positive for Melan A, TRP-1 and, in the majority of cases, also for tyrosinase. Conclusion: We successfully cultured melanocytes of the inner ear vestibular labyrinth for the first time and demonstrated melanocytic characteristics of these cells. This accomplishment will provide the opportunity to investigate VIEM in more detail in future experiments.

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Melanin in the Inner Ear

Cited by 66 publications

References 4 publications

Distribution and features of melanocytes during inner ear development in pigmented and albino rats

Distribution and features of melanocytes during inner ear development in pigmented and albino rats

Application of Mouse Models to Research in Hearing and Balance

In vitro Isolation and Cell Culture of Vestibular Inner Ear Melanocytes

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