Biomaterial Database

Preferential amino acid uptake identifies Type II spiral ganglion neurons in the gerbil. 1983

A F Ryan, and I R Schwartz

The localization of 3H-labeled amino acids was compared by light and electron microscopic autoradiography in the spiral ganglion of the gerbil, following in vivo intracochlear incubations. Following incubations with taurine, a population of heavily labeled neurons could be distinguished from lightly labeled neurons. The heavily labeled population comprised 5-6% of spiral ganglion neurons, and included the least myelinated cells. Ultrastructurally, the heavily labeled neurons were characterized by a loosely coiled Schwann cell sheath covering the cell body, and the presence of abundant cytoplasmic microfilaments. The unlabeled cells showed a typical perikaryal myelin sheath and cytoplasm rich in rough endoplasmic reticulum. It is concluded that the spiral ganglion of the gerbil contains both Type I and Type II neurons, and that Type II neurons preferentially incorporate the amino acid taurine. Type II neurons are therefore biochemically as well as morphologically distinct from Type I neurons.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D009474	Neurons	The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D003051	Cochlea	The part of the inner ear (LABYRINTH) that is concerned with hearing. It forms the anterior part of the labyrinth, as a snail-like structure that is situated almost horizontally anterior to the VESTIBULAR LABYRINTH.	Cochleas
D005849	Gerbillinae	A subfamily of the Muridae consisting of several genera including Gerbillus, Rhombomys, Tatera, Meriones, and Psammomys.	Gerbils,Jird,Meriones,Psammomys,Rats, Sand,Gerbil,Jirds,Merione,Rat, Sand,Sand Rat,Sand Rats
D000596	Amino Acids	Organic compounds that generally contain an amino (-NH2) and a carboxyl (-COOH) group. Twenty alpha-amino acids are the subunits which are polymerized to form proteins.	Amino Acid,Acid, Amino,Acids, Amino
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001345	Autoradiography	The making of a radiograph of an object or tissue by recording on a photographic plate the radiation emitted by radioactive material within the object. (Dorland, 27th ed)	Radioautography
D013136	Spiral Ganglion	The sensory ganglion of the COCHLEAR NERVE. The cells of the spiral ganglion send fibers peripherally to the cochlear hair cells and centrally to the COCHLEAR NUCLEI of the BRAIN STEM.	Ganglion of Corti,Auditory Ganglion,Spiral Ganglia,Auditory Ganglions,Ganglia, Spiral,Ganglion, Auditory,Ganglion, Spiral,Ganglions, Auditory
D014316	Tritium	The radioactive isotope of hydrogen also known as hydrogen-3. It contains two NEUTRONS and one PROTON in its nucleus and decays to produce low energy BETA PARTICLES.	Hydrogen-3,Hydrogen 3