OBJECTIVETo explore the role of some apoptosis regulators during the development in rat cochlea.

METHODSThe morphological development process of cochlea was observed in Wistar rat aged between embryo day 13 to postnatal day 14 in this experiment. Survivin and caspase-3 were respectively detected at protein and mRNA levels by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThe expression of survivin and caspase-3 located in the bottom wall of the cochlear duct. Not only they widespread in the cell proliferation, but also they gradually enhanced in the cell differentiation. Both of them had a crest-time, and survivin was prior to caspase-3. In organ of corti during adult time, caspase-3 was not present and survivin was only expressed.

CONCLUSIONSDuring the development of the rat cochlea, both of them had similar location and trend. But they were derangement. This showed that both of them participated in the cochlear morphological development. It was suggested that the interaction between survivin and caspase-3 regulated the apoptosis, promoted the cochlear morphological development.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cochlea ; embryology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Female ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are the largest subfamily of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, and they play important roles in the development of numerous organs, including the inner ear. The inner ear is a relatively small organ but has a highly complex structure and is involved in both hearing and balance. Here, we discuss BMPs and BMP signaling pathways and then focus on the role of BMP signal pathway regulation in the development of the inner ear and the implications this has for the treatment of human hearing loss and balance dysfunction.
Body Patterning ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors/physiology* ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins/physiology* ; Cell Differentiation ; Cochlea/embryology* ; Ear, Inner/embryology* ; Hedgehog Proteins/physiology* ; Humans ; Signal Transduction/physiology* ; Smad Proteins/physiology* ; Vestibule, Labyrinth/embryology* ; Wnt Signaling Pathway