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The expression and significance of Epac1 and Epac2 in the inner ear of guinea pigs

  • OTOLOGY
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European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To detect the expression of Epac1 and Epac2 in the inner ear of guinea pigs and its association with microcirculation in the inner ear.

Methods

The temporal bones of 30 healthy red-eye guinea pigs (60 ears) weighing 200–350 g were collected, then the surrounding bone wall of the cochlea was removed under a dissection microscope. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot were used to detect mRNA and protein expression, respectively, of Epac1 and Epac2 in the inner ear and to compare their expression in heart, liver, kidney, intestine, and lung tissues. The specimens of the cochlea included the stria vascularis, basilar membrane, saccule, and utricles isolated under a microscope to detect the localization of Epac1 and Epac2 proteins in various parts of the inner ear through immunofluorescence staining.

Results

The RT-qPCR and Western blot results showed that Epac1 mRNA was universally expressed in the inner ear, heart, liver, kidneys, intestines, and lungs, and was highly expressed in the liver, kidneys, and intestines (p < 0.05 vs heart, liver, kidney, intestine; p > 0.05 vs lung). Epac2 mRNA was expressed in the inner ear and heart, but not in the liver, kidneys, intestines, or lungs (p < 0.05 vs Heart). Epac1 and Epac2 proteins were both expressed in the inner ear, heart, liver, kidneys, intestines, and lungs. The relative expression of Epac1 proteins in the inner ear was significantly different from the liver, kidneys, intestines, and lungs (p < 0.05). The relative expression of Epac2 proteins in the inner ear was significantly different from the liver, kidneys, and lungs (p < 0.05), but not from the heart (p = 0.127) or intestines (p = 0.274). Immunofluorescence staining observed under confocal microscopy indicated that Epac1 and Epac2 proteins were expressed in the stria vascularis, basilar membrane, saccule, and utricles of the inner ear. They were expressed in maginal cells, intermediate cells, and basal cells of the stria vascularis, and highly expressed in capillary endothelial cells.

Conclusions

Epac1 and Epac2 mRNA and proteins were both expressed in the inner ear of guinea pigs and evenly expressed in the spiral ganglion, basilar membrane, saccule, and utricles. However, their expression in capillary endothelial cells of the stria vascularis was more obvious, suggesting that cyclic adenosine monophosphate–Epac1 signaling may play an important role in maintaining the function of the blood–labyrinth barrier and regulating the stability of microcirculation in the inner ear.

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Funding

(1) The Development Projects For Science and Technology of Chinese Medicine of Jiangsu Province (N202009). (2) Key R & D Plan (Social Development) Project of Xuzhou Science and Technology Bureau (KC20067). (3) Postgraduate Research & Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (SJCX20_0930). (4) National Natural Science Foundation of China, 81570917, 81600802, 81771009. The authors have no other funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Chuan Wang, Yuan Li and Wen Liu are Co-first authors.

  2. Xuanyi Li, Yuehua Qiao and Chunfu Dai are Co-correspondence authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221000, People’s Republic of China

    Chuan Wang, Wen Liu, Caiji Wang, Wen Jiang, Zeqi Zhao, Xuanyi Li & Yuehua Qiao

  2. Institute of Audiology and Balance Science, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221000, People’s Republic of China

    Chuan Wang, Caiji Wang, Wen Jiang, Zeqi Zhao, Xuanyi Li & Yuehua Qiao

  3. Artificial Auditory Laboratory of Jiangsu Province, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221002, People’s Republic of China

    Chuan Wang, Caiji Wang, Wen Jiang, Zeqi Zhao, Xuanyi Li & Yuehua Qiao

  4. Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221002, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China

    Yuan Li

  5. National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine (Fudan University), Department of Otology and Skull Base Surgery, Shanghai, 200000, People’s Republic of China

    Chunfu Dai

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  1. Chuan Wang
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  2. Yuan Li
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  3. Wen Liu
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  7. Xuanyi Li
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Correspondence to Xuanyi Li.

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Wang, C., Li, Y., Liu, W. et al. The expression and significance of Epac1 and Epac2 in the inner ear of guinea pigs. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 279, 5207–5214 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-022-07380-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-022-07380-0

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