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PMID: 16773501 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Review

Gap junctions and cochlear homeostasis.

The Journal of membrane biology ·Vol. 209 ·No. 2-3 ·2006-00-00 ·Pages 177-86

Zhao HB, Kikuchi T, Ngezahayo A, White TW

Abstract

Gap junctions play a critical role in hearing and mutations in connexin genes cause a high incidence of human deafness. Pathogenesis mainly occurs in the cochlea, where gap junctions form extensive networks between non-sensory cells that can be divided into two independent gap junction systems, the epithelial cell gap junction system and the connective tissue cell gap junction system. At least four different connexins have been reported to be present in the mammalian inner ear, and gap junctions are thought to provide a route for recycling potassium ions that pass through the sensory cells during the mechanosensory transduction process back to the endolymph. Here we review the cochlear gap junction networks and their hypothesized role in potassium ion recycling mechanism, pharmacological and physiological gating of cochlear connexins, animal models harboring connexin mutations and functional studies of mutant channels that cause human deafness. These studies elucidate gap junction functions in the cochlea and also provide insight for understanding the pathogenesis of this common hereditary deafness induced by connexin mutations.

MeSH Terms
Animals Cochlea/metabolism,physiology Connexins/genetics,physiology Disease Models, Animal Gap Junctions/metabolism,physiology Hearing Loss/genetics,physiopathology Homeostasis/genetics,physiology Humans Mice Mutation
Chemicals
Connexins
Authors & Affiliations
4 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Zhao H-B
Department of Surgery-Otolaryngology, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, KY, USA.
Kikuchi T
Ngezahayo A
White T W
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Article Info
Journal
The Journal of membrane biology
Abbr.
J Membr Biol
ISSN
0022-2631
DOI
10.1007/s00232-005-0832-x
Published
2006-00-00
Epub
2006-00-17
Pages
177-86
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
0211301
PMCID
PMC1609193
Subset
IM
Grants
NIDCD NIH HHS · R01 DC005989-03 · United States
NIDCD NIH HHS · R01 DC005989 · United States
NIDCD NIH HHS · R01 DC005989-01A2 · United States
NIDCD NIH HHS · DC06652 · United States
NIDCD NIH HHS · R03 DC004618-03 · United States
NIDCD NIH HHS · DC05989 · United States
NIDCD NIH HHS · R01 DC006652 · United States
NIDCD NIH HHS · R03 DC004618-01 · United States
NIDCD NIH HHS · R01 DC005989-02 · United States
NIDCD NIH HHS · R03 DC004618-02 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1007/s00232-005-0832-x PMC Full Text View journal details
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