%0 Journal Article
%T Computer modeling defines the system driving a constant current crucial for homeostasis in the mammalian cochlea by integrating unique ion transports
%A Fumiaki Nin
%A Genki Ogata
%A Hidenori Inohara
%A Hiroshi Hibino
%A Katsumi Doi
%A Samuel Choi
%A Satoru Uetsuka
%A Seishiro Sawamura
%A Shingo Murakami
%A Shizuo Komune
%A Takamasa Yoshida
%A Yoshihisa Kurachi
%J Archive of "NPJ Systems Biology and Applications".
%D 2017
%R 10.1038/s41540-017-0025-0
%X Morphological and electrochemical characteristics of the cochlea. a Structure of the cochlea. This organ is composed of three tubules: the scala vestibuli (SV), scala tympani (ST), and scala media (SM). The SV and ST contain a normal extracellular fluid, perilymph, whereas the SM is filled with the endolymph, of which [K+] and potential are 150£¿mM and +80£¿mV, respectively. This potential is referred to as an endocochlear potential (EP). The locations of the spiral ligament and stria vascularis, which constituent the lateral wall, are also illustrated. Note that the ligament is dominated by fibrocytes. The circulation current unidirectionally flows throughout the cochlea, as depicted. The cellular composition of the stria and ligament in the region indicated with a black rectangle is illustrated in the upper panel of b. b Structure of the lateral cochlear wall. In the lateral wall, fibrocytes (FC) of the ligament and the basal and intermediate cells of the stria (BC and IC, respectively) are all connected with gap junctions; therefore, they form a syncytium (upper panel). Because of the tight junctions (TJs) between the basal cells, fibrocytes and intermediate cells can be assumed to constitute the basolateral and apical surfaces in the syncytium, respectively. On the fibrocyte membrane, permeability of Na+ is larger than permeability of K+ and Cl£¿ (PNa£¿>£¿PK, PCl).30 Between syncytial and marginal-cell layers in the stria lies the intrastrial space (IS), an extracellular compartment whose width is 15£¿nm. Channels and transporters shown in the upper panel likely perform pivotal functions in maintaining the circulation current and EP. The syncytium and the layer of the other strial cell type, marginal cells, are comparable to the outer and inner layers, respectively (see Abstract and Introduction). The lower panel shows electrochemical properties of each compartment of the lateral wall; v SB, v SA, v MB, and v MA correspond to the membrane potentials across the basolateral and apical surfaces of the syncytial and marginal-cell layer
%U https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5572463/