Downregulation of Cav3.1 T-type Calcium Channel Expression in Age-related Hearing Loss Model

• Published in: Current medical science Vol. 41; no. 4; pp. 680 - 686
• Main Authors: Pan, Chun-chen, Du, Zhi-hui, Zhao, Yi, Chu, Han-qi, Sun, Jin-wu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wuhan Huazhong University of Science and Technology 01.08.2021; Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery,the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China,Division of Life Sciences and Medicine,University of Science and Technology of China,Hefei 230001,China; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery,Tongji Hospital,Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology,Wuhan 430030,China%Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery,Tongji Hospital,Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology,Wuhan 430030,China%Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery,the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China,Division of Life Sciences and Medicine,University of Science and Technology of China,Hefei 230001,China
• Subjects: Animals; Calcium Channels, T-Type - genetics; Cochlea - diagnostic imaging; Cochlea - metabolism; Cochlea - pathology; Disease Models, Animal; Gene Expression Regulation - genetics; Hair Cells, Auditory - metabolism; Hair Cells, Auditory - pathology; Humans; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mice; Organ of Corti - diagnostic imaging; Organ of Corti - metabolism; Organ of Corti - pathology; Presbycusis - genetics; Presbycusis - pathology; Spiral Ganglion - diagnostic imaging; Spiral Ganglion - metabolism; Spiral Ganglion - pathology; C57BL/6 mouse; cochlea; presbycusis; HEI-OC1
• ISSN: 2096-5230; 1672-0733; 2523-899X; 1993-1352
• DOI: 10.1007/s11596-021-2416-0

Objective Age-related hearing loss (AHL), characterized by degeneration of cochlea structures, is the most common sensory disorder among the elderly worldwide. The calcium channel is considered to contribute to normal hearing. However, the role of the T-type voltage-activated calcium channel, Cav3.1, remains unclear in AHL. Here, we investigate the age-related change of Cav3.1 expression in the cochlea and D-gal-induced senescent HEI-OC1 cells. Methods Cochleae from C57BL/6 mice at 2 months and 12 months of age were assessed. Senescence in House Ear Institute-Organ of Corti 1 (HEI-OC1) cells was induced by D-gal treatment. The immunofluorescence technique was employed to investigate the distribution of Cav3.1 in vivo and in vitro . Quantitative assessment was achieved by Western blotting and real-time PCR. Results In comparison with 2-month-old animals, 12-month old C57BL/6 mice exhibited great loss of hair cells and elevated auditory brainstem threshold. The Cav3.1 was located in hair cells, spiral ganglion cells, lateral walls, and the expression of Cav3.1 protein and mRNA decreased in the aged cochleae. D-gal-induced senescence assay confirmed the down-regulation of Cav3.1 expression in senescent HEI-OC1 cells. Conclusion Our results show that age-related down-regulated expression of Cav3.1 in the cochleae is associated with AHL and may contribute to the pathogenesis of AHL.