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At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1996

Evolution of Gravity Receptors in the Ear

The general status of a grant to investigate the origins and evolution of two hair cell types in the ears of a teleost fish, Astronotus ocellatus (the oscar), is presented. First, it was demonstrated that the cells in the rostral end of the saccule of the , Carassius auratus, are type 1-like, while those at the caudal end are type 2 cells. It was demonstrated that the dichotomy of hair cell types found in the utricle of the oscar is also found in the goldfish. Second, the lateral line system of the oscar was examined using gentamicin sulphate, an ototocix drug that destroys type 1- like hair cells but does not appear to damage type 2 hair cells. It was demonstrated that the hair cells found in neuromasts of lateral line canal organs were totally destroyed within 1 day of treatment, while the hair cells in free neuromasts were undamaged after 12 days of treatment. Third, it was demonstrated that the calyx, the specialized nerve ending, is not unique to amniotes and that it is present at least in the cristae of semicirular canals in goldfish. These results have demonstrated that: (1) there are multiple hair cell types in the vestibular endorgans of the ear of fishes, (2) these hair cell types are very similar to those found in the mammalian vestibular endorgans, (3) the nerve calyx is also present in fishes, and (4) multiple hair cell types and the calyx have evolved far earlier in the course of vertebrate evolution than heretofore thought. Understanding the structure of the vestibular endorgans has important implications for being able to understand how these organs respond to gravistatic, acceleration and acoustic input. The vestibular endorgans of fishes may provide an ideal system in which to analyze functional differences in hair cells. Not only are the two hair cell types similar to those found in mammals, they are located in very discrete regions in each endorgan. Thus, it is relatively easy to gain access to cells of one or the other type. The presence of two cell types in the lateral line have equally significant implications for studies of the vestibular system.

Popper, Arthur N.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Development of inner ear afferent connections: forming primary neurons and connecting them to the developing sensory epithelia

The molecular and cellular origin of the primary neurons of the inner ear, the vestibular and spiral neurons, is reviewed including how they connect to the specific sensory epithelia and what the molecular nature of their survival is. Primary neurons of the ear depend on a single basic Helix-Loop-Helix (bHLH) protein for their formation, neurogenin 1 (ngn1). An immediate downstream gene is the bHLH gene neuronal differentiation (NeuroD). Targeted null mutations of ngn1 results in absence of primary neuron formation; targeted null mutation of NeuroD results in loss of almost all spiral and many vestibular neurons. NeuroD and a later expressed gene, Brn3a, play a role in pathfinding to and within sensory epithelia. The molecular nature of this pathfinding property is unknown. Reduction of hair cells in ngn1 null mutations suggests a clonal relationship with primary neurons. This relationship may play some role in specifying the identity of hair cells and the primary neurons that connect with them. Primary neuron neurites growth to sensory epithelia is initially independent of trophic factors released from developing sensory epithelia, but becomes rapidly dependent on those factors. Null mutations of specific neurotrophic factors lose distinct primary neuron populations which undergo rapid embryonic cell death.

Review↗
DOE OSTI2025

Effect of bisphosphonate treatment on the oim mouse middle ear ossicles' structure, composition and hearing

Hearing loss is common in people with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI or brittle bone disease). Bisphosphonates are commonly used to treat long bone fragility in children with OI. However, its impact on the bone quality of the middle ear ossicles and hearing remains unknown. This study determines whether bisphosphonates treatment itself may contribute to hearing loss in OI by evaluating its effects in the oim/oim mouse model of severe OI having normal auditory function. Specifically, this study reports the effects of alendronate (ALN), a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate, on ossicle morphology, porosity, and elemental composition in 14-week-old oim/oim mice treated weekly, starting at 2 weeks of age. The ossicles were examined using synchrotron microtomography and X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM). Hearing was assessed longitudinally until 26 weeks of age by determining auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds in another group of mice also treated weekly starting at 2 weeks of age. ALN treatment further reduces in size the already small oim/oim ossicles, specifically in female mice. Porosity, bone composition, and hearing function, however, were generally not affected by the ALN treatment. Furthermore, ALN does not prevent joint fusions, excessive bone formations, or enlarged joint spaces in WT or oim/oim experimental groups. One ALN-treated oim/oim mouse with a bone formation in the interior of the footplate, and one ALN-treated WT mouse with a fixed footplate had frequency-specific hearing loss. Since footplate abnormalities are not observed in PBS-treated mice in this study, it remains unclear whether ALN fails to prevent these changes or contributes to their development. Future studies should investigate the mechanisms of ossicular abnormalities and bisphosphonates modulatory role in the ossicles.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Identification of a Fusarium ear rot resistance gene in maize by QTL mapping and RNA sequencing

Fusarium ear rot (FER) caused by Fusarium verticillioides is a prevalent maize disease. To comprehensively characterize the genetic basis of the natural variation in FER resistance, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population was used to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for FER resistance. A total of 17 QTL were identified by linkage mapping in eight environments. These QTL were located on six chromosomes and explained 3.88–15.62% of the total phenotypic variation. Moreover, qFER1.03 had the strongest effect and accounted for 4.98–15.62% of the phenotypic variation according to analyses of multiple environments involving best linear unbiased predictions. The chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) derived from a cross between Qi319 (donor parent) and Ye478 (recurrent parent) were used to verify the contribution of qFER1.03 to FER resistance. The line CL171, which harbored an introgressed qFER1.03 , was significantly resistant to FER. Further fine mapping of qFER1.03 revealed that the resistance QTL was linked to insertion/deletion markers InDel 8 and InDel 2, with physical distances of 43.55 Mb and 43.76 Mb, respectively. Additionally, qFER1.03 differed from the previous resistance QTL on chromosome 1. There were three annotated genes in this region. On the basis of the RNA-seq data, which revealed the genes differentially expressed between the FER-resistant Qi319 and susceptible Ye478, GRMZM2G017792 (MPK3) was preliminarily identified as a candidate gene in the qFER1.03 region. The Pr-CMV-VIGS system was used to decrease the GRMZM2G017792 expression level in CL171 by 34–57%, which led to a significant decrease in FER resistance. Using RIL and CSSL populations combined with RNA-seq and Pr-CMV-VIGS, the candidate gene can be dissected effectively, which provided important gene resource for breeding FER-resistant varieties.

Xia, Yusheng↗
NASA NTRS1966

Histopathology of the Chimpanzee Ear

Four female and two male chimpanzees were secured in various positions on a Daisy Decelerator and subjected to forces ranging from 54 to 180 G. It was found that forces in excess of 54 G may rupture the tympanic membranes and cause subepithelial hemorrhages in the middle ear. The majority of cases showed proteinaceous material, with or without cells in the petrous air spaces. When exposed to forces above 119 G, there was engorgement and often rupture of the pericarotid venous plexus. When supine, distortion of both superior and posterior semicircular canals was found. With forces in excess of 54 G, the cupulae of the cristae ampullaris were either elevated or destroyed. The hair processes were also often broken off. The otolithic membranes, especially of the maculae utriculi were also elevated or otherwise distorted and the saccule was often partially collapsed. In several instances, there was an overabundance of a proteinaceous substance in the lumina of the vestibular apparatus and in the cochlear ducts with their associated scalae. In half the cases, the cochlear duct was narrowed by the depression of the vestibular membrane. Although there seems to be considerable individual variation in ability to withstand these forces, neither age, sex nor weight appear to directly influence the results. The possible sources for the materials found both in the air cells and labyrinth are discussed.

ACCELERATION TOLERANCE↗
NASA NTRS1980

Role of the middle ear muscle apparatus in mechanisms of speech signal discrimination

A method of impedance reflexometry was used to examine 101 students with hearing impairment in order to clarify the interrelation between speech discrimination and the state of the middle ear muscles. Ability to discriminate speech signals depends to some extent on the functional state of intraaural muscles. Speech discrimination was greatly impaired in the absence of stapedial muscle acoustic reflex, in the presence of low thresholds of stimulation and in very small values of reflex amplitude increase. Discrimination was not impeded in positive AR, high values of relative thresholds and normal increase of reflex amplitude in response to speech signals with augmenting intensity.

Moroz, B. S.↗
NASA NTRS1996

A Hydrodynamic Model of Transport in the Wheat Ear

The vascular arrangement in the main axis (rachis) of the wheat ear, studied and reported in a previous paper by the same, described a circuit-cascade system consisting of capacitance and resistance passages (so-called RC-circuits). Some hydromechanic aspects (e.g., resonance, impulse control) of this asymmetric transport system and their possible role and importance in the fluid supply are discussed. A theoretical analysis of how this system works, as well as samples of practical application are presented.

Stieber, Joseph↗
NASA NTRS1996

The Main Transport System in the Wheat Ear

The vascular system in the rachis, rachilla, and florets of the wheat ear was studied by direct microscopical observation of cleaned semi longitudinal sections. A periodic repetitive change of amphivasal and collateral phases was found along each main vascular bundle in the rachis. This change alternates between the two groups of main bundles and is related to the bilateral alternate arrangement of the spikelets on the rachis, so that a large amphivasal phase of the one group opposes the collateral phase of the other group. Ring-shaped tracheary inter-connections were observed mostly at the nodes. A similar system was found in the rachilla. There is a continuous uninterrupted tracheary connection between each of the florets and the rachis. A functional significance of the periodic changes observed has been suggested.

Stieber, Joseph↗
NASA NTRS1995

The glycan keratan sulfate in inner ear crystals

The otoconial matrix (OM) of chicks (Gallus domesticus) inner ear was analyzed. Histochemically the OM was reacted with phosphotungstic acid (PTA) and immunohistochemically with the monoclonal antibody antikeratan sulfate (antiKS). The OM was digested with the enzyme endo-beta-galactosidase (E beta Galase) or separated by 1D and 2D gel electrophoresis. PTA which reacts with glycoproteins precipitated the OM, suggesting that the OM contains glycoproteins. A central core in each crystal had no PTA staining, suggesting that the core lacked glycoproteins. Anti KS antibody stained the OM with increased density in older embryos as determined by color thresholding. E beta Galase, which cleaves the lactosamine repeating units in KS, decreased the immunostain by 30% in the OM and by 20% in the cartilage. The OM from the utricle, saccule and macula lagena contained similar molecular weight bands. Five dense bands in the OM were less dense in tissue and blood controls, suggesting that such bands are enriched in the OM. Isoelectric focusing of the OM showed a negatively charged high molecular weight smear not present in blood and faint in tissue controls. The high affinity of the OM for the cationic PTA stain, the strong immunohistochemical reaction of the OM with anti KS antibody and high molecular weight negative smear in 2D gels taken together suggest that: a) the OM contains large amounts of glycoproteins and glycans, one of which is keratan sulfate, because its immuno stain with antiKS antibody was decreased by the enzyme E beta Galase, b) the utricle, saccule and macula lagena may have similar composition, and c) the concentration of KS may increase gradually until complete mineralization of the OM is reached.

Non-NASA Center↗
DOE OSTI2020

Perimatrix of middle ear cholesteatoma: A granulation tissue with a specific transcriptomic signature

Objectives/Hypothesis: To establish comprehensive transcriptomic profiles of cholesteatoma perimatrix tissue and granulation tissue from chronic otitis media (COM) that did not develop cholesteatoma, which can indicate molecular pathways involved in the cholesteatoma perimatrix pathology and invasiveness. Study Design: Retrospective Case Series. Methods: Transcriptome data were obtained from cholesteatoma perimatrix tissue and COM granulation tissue by an Illumina iScan microarray. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were subsequently analyzed using both bioinformatical functional annotation and network analysis. Expression of candidate genes (MMP9 and LCN2) was validated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) on a larger group of samples. Results: Analysis of the transcriptome led to the identification of 169 differentially expressed genes between investigated tissues. Bioinformatic analysis suggested that most significant biological processes involving DEGs were previously described in cholesteatoma pathology. Network analysis identified ERBB2, TFAP2A, and TP63 as major hubs of the DEGs molecular network. Furthermore, it was observed that the cellular component most significantly enriched in DEGs was extracellular space containing 47 DEGs. Using qRT-PCR, it was confirmed that mRNA levels of the major extracellular hub (MMP9) are increased, whereas its interacting molecule (LCN2) mRNA levels were decreased in cholesteatoma perimatrix tissue compared to COM granulation tissue. Conclusions: The current study approach offers an overall look at molecular mechanisms that describe the cholesteatoma entity by focusing exclusively on the perimatrix processes in comparison to COM granulation tissue. The observed differences in gene expression between cholesteatoma perimatrix and COM granulation tissue could suggest novel markers potentially influenced by the perimatrix–matrix molecular interplay, which is not present in COM without cholesteatoma. Level of Evidence: NA. Laryngoscope, 130:E220–E227, 2020. © 2019 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗