We performed an immunohistochemical investigation of the distribution of glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) in the murine inner ear and found that GRs were expressed extensively, but with various degrees of immunoreactivity in different regions. We observed the strongest GR expression in the type III fibrocytes of the spiral ligament. Although the immunoreactivity of the cochlear hair cells and of the vestibular sensory epithelia was weak, the neighboring cochlear supporting cells and the subepithelial regions of the vestibular sensory epithelia were immunostained. Staining for GRs was also positive in the spiral ganglia and vestibular ganglia, as well as in the endolymphatic sac. The role of GRs in the inner ear is discussed.
RareyKECurtisLMten CateW-JF. Tissue specific levels of glucocorticoid receptor within the rat inner ear. Hear Res1993;64:205–10.
4.
RareyKECurtisLM. Receptors for glucocorticoids in the human inner ear. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg1996;115:38–41.
5.
ten CateWJFCurtisLMRareyKE. Immunochemical detection of glucocorticoid receptors within rat cochlear and vestibular tissues. Hear Res1992;60:199–204.
6.
ErichsenSBagger-SjobackDCurtisLZuoJRareyKHultcrantzM. Appearance of glucocorticoid receptors in the inner ear of the mouse during development. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh)1996;116:721–5.
7.
ErichsenSStiernaPBagger-SjobackD. Distribution of Na,K-ATPase is normal in the inner ear of a mouse with a null mutation of the glucocorticoid receptor. Hear Res1998;124:146–54.
8.
ten CateWJFCurtisLMSmallGMRareyKE. Localization of glucocorticoid receptors and glucocorticoid receptor mRNAs in the rat cochlea. Laryngoscope1993;103:865–71.
9.
ZuoJCurtisLMYaoX. Glucocorticoid receptor expression in the postnatal rat cochlea. Hear Res1995;87:220–7.
10.
IchimiyaISuzukiMHiranoTMogiG. The influence of pneumococcal otitis media on the cochlear lateral wall. Hear Res1999;131:128–34.
11.
YoshidaKIchimiyaISuzukiMMogiG. Effect of proinflammatory cytokines on cultured spiral ligament fibrocytes. Hear Res1999;137:155–9.
12.
SukoTIchimiyaIYoshidaKSuzukiMMogiG. Classification and culture of spiral ligament fibrocytes from mice. Hear Res2000;140:137–44.
13.
TurnerBB. Tissue differences in the up-regulation of glucocorticoid-binding proteins in the rat. Endocrinology1986;118:1211–6.
14.
SpicerSSSchulteBA. Differentiation of inner ear fibrocytes according to their ion transport related activity. Hear Res1991;56:53–64.
15.
IchimiyaIAdamsJCKimuraRS. Immunolocalization of Na+,K+-ATPase, Ca++-ATPase, calcium-binding proteins, and carbonic anhydrase in the guinea pig inner ear. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh)1994;114:167–76.
16.
SpicerSSSchulteBA. The fine structure of spiral ligament cells relates to ion return to the stria and varies with place-frequency. Hear Res1996;100:80–100.
17.
KikuchiTKimuraRSPaulDLAdamsJC. Gap junctions in the rat cochlea: Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analysis. Anat Embryol (Berl)1995;191:101–18.
18.
WangemannPLiuJZMarcusDC. Ion transport mechanisms responsible for K+ secretion and the transepithelial voltage across marginal cells of stria vascularis in vitro. Hear Res1995;84:19–29.
19.
IchimiyaIAdamsJCKimuraRS. Changes in immunostaining of cochleas with experimentally induced endolymphatic hydrops. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1994;103:457–68.
20.
IchimiyaIKuronoYHiranoTMogiG. Changes in immunostaining of inner ears after antigen challenge into the scala tympani. Laryngoscope1998;108:585–91.
21.
KikuchiTAdamsJCPaulDLKimuraRS. Gap junction systems in the rat vestibular labyrinth: Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analysis. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh)1994;114:520–8.
22.
TomiyamaS. Development of endolymphatic hydrops following immune response in the endolymphatic sac of the guinea pig. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh)1992;112:470–8.
23.
Danckwardt-LillieströmNFribergUKinneforsARask-AndersenH. “Endolymphatic sacitis” in a case of active Meniere's disease. An ultrastructural histopathologic investigation. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1997;106:190–8.
