University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Expression of Wnt Receptors in Adult Spiral Ganglion Neurons: Frizzled 9 Localization at Growth Cones of Regenerating Neurites

Shah, Samit M.; Kang, Young-Jin; Christensen, Barbara L.; Feng, Albert S.; Kollmar, Richard

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/14823

Description

Title
Expression of Wnt Receptors in Adult Spiral Ganglion Neurons: Frizzled 9 Localization at Growth Cones of Regenerating Neurites
Author(s)
  • Shah, Samit M.
  • Kang, Young-Jin
  • Christensen, Barbara L.
  • Feng, Albert S.
  • Kollmar, Richard
Issue Date
2009-08-28
Keyword(s)
  • Cell surface receptors
  • Cochlea
  • In situ hybridization
  • Mice
  • Microarray Analysis
Abstract
Little is known about signaling pathways, besides those of neurotrophic factors, that are operational in adult spiral ganglion neurons. In patients with sensorineural hearing loss, such pathways could eventually be targeted to stimulate and guide neurite outgrowth from the remnants of the spiral ganglion towards a cochlear implant, thereby improving the fidelity of sound transmission. To systematically identify neuronal receptors for guidance cues in the adult cochlea, we conducted a genome-wide cDNA microarray screen with two-month-old CBA/CaJ mice. A meta-analysis of our data and those from older mice in two other studies revealed the presence of neuronal transmembrane receptors that represent all four established guidance pathways—ephrin, netrin, semaphorin, and slit—in the mature cochlea as late as 15 months. In addition, we observed the expression of all known receptors for the Wnt morphogens, whose neuronal guidance function has only recently been recognized. In situ hybridizations located the mRNAs of the Wnt receptors frizzled 1, 4, 6, 9, and 10 specifically in adult spiral ganglion neurons. Finally, frizzled 9 protein was found in the growth cones of adult spiral ganglion neurons that were regenerating neurites in culture. We conclude from our results that adult spiral ganglion neurons are poised to respond to neurite damage, owing to the constitutive expression of a large and diverse collection of guidance receptors. Wnt signaling, in particular, emerges as a candidate pathway for guiding neurite outgrowth towards a cochlear implant after sensorineural hearing loss.
Publisher
Neuroscience
ISSN
1873-7544
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/14823
Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)
T32 DC006612/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/United States

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