Abstract
BackgroundAlthough the activity of tinnitus-related ion co-transporter are known, their mRNA expressions has seldom been reported. We aimed to investigate the mRNA expressions of tinnitus-related ion co-transporter genes, and treatment effects of Spirulina.MethodsThe mRNA expressions of K+–Cl− co-transporter (KCC2) and Na-K-2Cl co-transporter 1 (NKCC1) genes in the cochlea and brain of mice were evaluated after tinnitus was induced by intraperitoneal injection of salicylate. The effects of spirulina water extract on these gene expressions were investigated.ResultsCompared to the control group, the tinnitus scores increased significantly, however, the salicylate-induced tinnitus could be reduced significantly by spirulina water extract. The tinnitus group had higher of borderline significance mRNA expression of KCC2 gene in the cochlear, significantly higher in the temporal lobes and in the frontal lobes. Meanwhile, compared to the tinnitus group, the spirulina group had significantly lower mRNA expression of KCC2 gene in the cochlear, temporal lobes, frontal lobes and parahippocampus/hippocampus. However, the NKCC1 mRNA expression was not significantly different between three groups in the cochlea and these brain areas.ConclusionSalicylate-induced tinnitus might be associated with increased mRNA expression of KCC2 gene, but not with mRNA expressions of NKCC1 gene in the cochlear and some tinnitus-related brain areas. Spirulina reduced the expression of KCC2 genes in salicylate-induced tinnitus.
Highlights
The activity of tinnitus-related ion co-transporter are known, their mRNA expressions has seldom been reported
The tinnitus score was significantly different in three groups four days after intraperitoneal salicylate injection (7.6 ± 3.8 versus 14.5 ± 4.6 versus 5.4 ± 3.4, p = 0.0005)
The K+– Cl− co-transporter (KCC2) mRNA expression was significantly different between three groups in the cochlea
Summary
The activity of tinnitus-related ion co-transporter are known, their mRNA expressions has seldom been reported. We aimed to investigate the mRNA expressions of tinnitus-related ion co-transporter genes, and treatment effects of Spirulina. Methods: The mRNA expressions of K+–Cl− co-transporter (KCC2) and Na-K-2Cl co-transporter 1 (NKCC1) genes in the cochlea and brain of mice were evaluated after tinnitus was induced by intraperitoneal injection of salicylate. Some co-transporter and/or ion channels, for example, K+– Cl− co-transporter (KCC2) [10, 11], voltage-gated sodium channels [12, 13], transient outward potassium currents, the glycine-induced chloride channels [14], Hwang and Chan BMC Neurology (2016) 16:159. The NKCC is a class of membrane proteins that transport Na, K, and Cl ions into and out of a wide variety of epithelial and non-epithelial cells. Inhibition of NKCC1 with its potent antagonist bumetanide reduces pain behavior in rats following spinal cord injury [19]
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