Localization of prostanoid receptors in the mouse inner ear

Abstract

Conclusion: EP4, EP2, and IP prostanoid receptors exert an otoprotective function and FP may be important for fluid homeostasis in the inner ear. Objective: To investigate the expression of prostanoid receptors in the normal mouse inner ear. Methods: CBA/J mice were used in this study. The localization of prostanoid receptors, i.e. DP, EP1, EP2, EP3, EP4, FP, IP, and TP, in the inner ear, i.e. the cochlea, vestibular end organs, endolymphatic sac, was studied by immunohistochemical techniques. Results: The EP4, IP, and FP prostanoid receptors were found to be abundantly distributed in many inner ear structures, i.e. stria vascularis, inner and outer hair cells, spiral ganglion cells, vestibular sensory and ganglion cells, and the endolymphatic sac. EP2 and EP3 are also localized in the inner ear whereas DP, EP1, and TP are only weakly expressed.

Keywords::

• Immunohistochemistry
• otoprotection
• fluid homeostasis

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a Health and Labour Science Research Grant for Research on Specific Diseases (Vestibular Disorders) from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan (2010), a Grant-in Aid for Scientific Research (22591881) provided by the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan, and by the Swedish Medical Research Council (17X-7305) and grants from Uppsala University and Akademiska sjukhuset, Uppsala, Sweden.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.