[Neuronotrophic interactions in the developing inner ear].

Abstract

In the developing inner ear, the existence of a neuronal death and of a peripheral target-derived trophic effect on the embryonic cochleovestibular neurons is described. We investigate the molecular vector(s) of such neuronotrophic influences on the cochleovestibular neurons, particularly the nerve growth factor (NGF) which is a good candidate since receptors for this trophic factor are described in the embryonic inner ear. In 12 day-old rat embryos, we demonstrate the release of an NGF-like activity by the otic vesicle and the effect of this trophic factor on the survival and the neuritogenesis of the cochleovestibular neurons. We suggest an important role for NGF in the neuronal stabilisation of the cochleovestibular ganglion and the invasion of the otic vesicle by the neurites. The study of the neuronotrophic interactions in the inner ear is then applied on more mature auditory neurons. In the 5 day-old rat cochlea, we also show the release by the central and the peripheral targets of a trophic activity allowing the survival of the afferent auditory neurons. These neuronotrophic factors may play an important role in the secondary degeneration of the auditory neurons following an injury of the Corti's organ or of the central target. The effect of NGF is also investigated on these neurons and we demonstrate that NGF has a neuritogenic but not a survival promoting effect on the 5 day-old rat afferent auditory neurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)