Perivascular-resident macrophage-like melanocytes in the inner ear are essential for the integrity of the intrastrial fluid-blood barrier.

ABSTRACT: The microenvironment of the cochlea is maintained by the barrier between the systemic circulation and the fluids inside the stria vascularis. However, the mechanisms that control the permeability of the intrastrial fluid-blood barrier remain largely unknown. The barrier comprises endothelial cells connected to each other by tight junctions and an underlying basement membrane. In a recent study, we found that the intrastrial fluid-blood barrier also includes a large number of perivascular cells with both macrophage and melanocyte characteristics. The perivascular-resident macrophage-like melanocytes (PVM/Ms) are in close contact with vessels through cytoplasmic processes. Here we demonstrate that PVM/Ms have an important role in maintaining the integrity of the intrastrial fluid-blood barri

SUBMITTER: Zhang W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3387119 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature