Ultrastructural recognition of gap junctions between melanocytes in human vestibular organs by tannic acid containing fixative preparation and freeze-fracture technique

Masuda, Masataka; Yamazaki, Kazuto; Toyama, Yoshiro; Kanzaki, Jin; Hosoda, Yasuhiro

doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-0185(199609)246:1<8::aid-ar2>3.0.co;2-r

Cited by 7 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 25 publications

(34 reference statements)

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“…We could not confirm the existence of gap junctions between melanocytes and other kinds of cells, such as epithelial dark cells, melanophages, or other subepithelial stromal cells (Masuda et al, 1996). No gap junctions were detected in the epithelial dark cell layer in the present study.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…It is now known that melanocytes mainly exist in the subepithelial layer of almost all parts of the mammalian inner ear (Dohlmann, 1974), however, we are the only group to date to have clearly demonstrated the existence of gap junctions between melanocytes and their cell processes in the vestibular organ of the human inner ear (Masuda et al, 1994, 1996). Clinically, vestibular and hearing disorders have been found in hereditary pigment disorders such as Vogt‐Koyanagi‐Harada disease and Waardenburg syndrome (Hülse and Partsch, 1971; Schweitzer and Clack, 1984).…”

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confidence: 93%

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Connexin 26 distribution in gap junctions between melanocytes in the human vestibular dark cell area

et al. 2001

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We have previously demonstrated the presence of gap junctions between melanocytes in the human vestibular organ and have speculated that melanocytes function in maintaining the homeostasis of the microenvironment of the inner ear. The purpose of the present study was to characterize the expression and ultrastructural localization of connexin (Cx) protein in melanocytes of the human vestibular organs. Surgical material was obtained from patients operated on for vestibular schwannoma and was processed for light microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, conventional TEM, and immuno TEM. The specimens were labeled with anti‐Cx26, Cx32, and Cx43 antibodies and examined by light microscopy. Specimens were also labeled with anti‐Cx26 antibody and examined by laser microscopy and immuno‐TEM methods. The specimens examined in this study were mainly dark cell areas from the human vestibular organ, whose epithelial and subepithelial layers are rich in melanocytes. Light‐microscopic immunohistochemical studies showed positive labeling for Cx26 protein between subepithelial melanocytes, and Cx32 was also detected. Use of anti‐Cx26 antibody and confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed high levels of Cx26 around the subepithelial melanocytes. Post‐embedding immuno‐gold transmission electron microscopy showed significant aggregation of gold particles (33.97 ± 8.01% of total gold particles) around the gap junctions of the subepithelial melanocytes. The results of this study indicated that melanocytes are connected through gap junctions that mainly contain Cx26. This suggested that the melanocytes in the human vestibular organ may play a role in transporting material between the endolymph and perilymph. Anat Rec 262:137–146, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 83%

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confidence: 93%

Connexin 26 distribution in gap junctions between melanocytes in the human vestibular dark cell area

et al. 2001

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“…Thus material transmission via capillaries into adjacent melanocytes or their cell processes may occur. Previously we have suggested the existence of an interaction system consisting of epithelial dark cells, intra-and subepithelial melanocytes in the human vestibular organs, which may operate in the maintenance of homeostasis of the tissues via melanosome production, transmission into the epithelial dark cells, and secretion into the endolymph (Masuda et al, 1994(Masuda et al, , 1995a(Masuda et al, , 1996. Specific materials transmitted via capillaries may contribute to the intracellular metabolism of melanocytes, which are in the activated metabolical state (Masuda et al, 1994(Masuda et al, , 1995a(Masuda et al, ,b, 1996.…”

Section: Role Of Subepithelial Capillaries In the Cell Community Of Hmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The dark cell area, which consists of epithelial dark cells, melanocytes, melanophages, subepithelial small blood vessels, and other cellular and stromal components, could be a significant functional site for the vestibular organs of the human inner ear (Masuda et al, 1994(Masuda et al, , 1995a(Masuda et al, , 1996. Small blood vessels like capillaries could be a site for the active transmission of various materials and transmigration of cellular components from the blood to the tissues (Cotran, 1994).…”

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confidence: 99%

Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural investigation of the human vestibular dark cell area: Roles of subepithelial capillaries and T lymphocyte‐melanophage interaction in an immune surveillance system

et al. 1997

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Background: The aim of the present study was to morphologically characterize the structure of the subepithelial blood vessels in the dark cell area of the human vestibular organs, and to determine whether immunocompetent cells such as macrophages and lymphocytes could be found around these small blood vessels.Materials and Methods: All 31 surgical specimens (semicircular canals and utricles) were obtained from patients with vestibular schwannoma. Formalin fixed specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and with antibodies to von Willebrand Factor (vWF), leukocyte common antigen (LCA), and UCHL-1, and were examined with light microscope. Specimens fixed with glutaraldehyde were examined with a transmission electron microscope (TEM).Observations: Subepithelial blood vessels stained positive for vWF. By TEM observation, these blood vessels were observed to be capillaries that consisted of non-fenestrated endothelium, occasional pericytes, and a basement membrane. They were usually accompanied by melanophages with a number of secondary lysosomes containing phagocytosed degraded melanosomes and lipid droplets. Moreover, melanocytes and their cell processes directly surrounded these subepithelial capillaries. The fact that cells which were positively stained with LCA and UCHL-1 were present both in the intra-and subepithelial layer of the specimens, and that by TEM the intra-and subepithelial mononuclear cells with a lymphoid appearance had clustered dense bodies in their cytoplasm, suggested that they were a population of T lymphocytes.Conclusions: Results suggested the possibility of a T lymphocytemelanophage (macrophage) interaction, both originating from and harbored around subepithelial capillaries, which suggests the presence of an immune surveillance system in the human vestibular organs. Anat.

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“…A mutação do gene da conexina 26 não se restringe apenas as lesões de pele, mas também a problemas relacionados à audição (KELLSELL et al, 1997) (MASUDA et al, 1996). Haja vista que esta proteína esteja presente em diversos tecidos humanos, tais como cérebro, fígado, rim e esôfago, podendo também ser encontrada entre os melanócitos subepiteliais (MASUDA et al, 2001).…”

Section: Conexina 26unclassified

Melanomas melânicos e amelânicos da cavidade bucal de cães: aspectos epidemiológicos, morfológicos e moleculares

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Ultrastructural recognition of gap junctions between melanocytes in human vestibular organs by tannic acid containing fixative preparation and freeze-fracture technique

Cited by 7 publications

References 25 publications

Connexin 26 distribution in gap junctions between melanocytes in the human vestibular dark cell area

Connexin 26 distribution in gap junctions between melanocytes in the human vestibular dark cell area

Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural investigation of the human vestibular dark cell area: Roles of subepithelial capillaries and T lymphocyte‐melanophage interaction in an immune surveillance system

Melanomas melânicos e amelânicos da cavidade bucal de cães: aspectos epidemiológicos, morfológicos e moleculares

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