Regulation of the perilymphatic-endolymphatic water shunt in the cochlea by membrane translocation of aquaporin-5.

ABSTRACT: Volume homeostasis of the cochlear endolymph depends on radial and longitudinal endolymph movements (LEMs). LEMs measured in vivo have been exclusively recognized under physiologically challenging conditions, such as experimentally induced alterations of perilymph osmolarity or endolymph volume. The regulatory mechanisms that adjust LEMs to the physiological requirements of endolymph volume homeostasis remain unknown. Here, we describe the formation of an aquaporin (AQP)-based "water shunt" during the postnatal development of the mouse cochlea and its regulation by different triggers. The final complementary expression pattern of AQP5 (apical membrane) and AQP4 (basolateral membrane) in outer sulcus cells (OSCs) of the cochlear apex is acquired at the onset of hearing function (postnatal d

SUBMITTER: Eckhard A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4646919 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature