Association of intracellular and synaptic organization in cochlear inner hair cells revealed by 3D electron microscopy

作者:Bullen Anwen*; West Timothy; Moores Carolyn; Ashmore Jonathan; Fleck Roland A; MacLellan Gibson Kirsty; Forge Andrew
来源:Journal of Cell Science, 2015, 128(14): 2529-2540.
DOI:10.1242/jcs.170761

摘要

The ways in which cell architecture is modelled to meet cell function is a poorly understood facet of cell biology. To address this question, we have studied the cytoarchitecture of a cell with highly specialised organisation, the cochlear inner hair cell (IHC), using multiple hierarchies of three-dimensional (3D) electron microscopy analyses. We show that synaptic terminal distribution on the IHC surface correlates with cell shape, and the distribution of a highly organised network of membranes and mitochondria encompassing the infranuclear region of the cell. This network is juxtaposed to a population of small vesicles, which represents a potential new source of neurotransmitter vesicles for replenishment of the synapses. Structural linkages between organelles that underlie this organisation were identified by high-resolution imaging. Taken together, these results describe a cell-encompassing network of membranes and mitochondria present in IHCs that support efficient coding and transmission of auditory signals. Such techniques also have the potential for clarifying functionally specialised cytoarchitecture of other cell types.

  • 出版日期2015-7-15
  • 单位中国食品药品检定研究院