Auditory Nerve Injury Induces Macrophage Activation

Anne-Marie Coble

School Name

South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Physiology and Health

Presentation Type

Mentored

Mentor

Mentor: Hainan Lang, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina

Abstract

Macrophages are a special type of immune cell that engulfs dead or damaged cells. They are found everywhere in the body and become more active after damage to cells. Their role in healing acute injury in the mature mouse cochlea has not been fully determined. We used Ouabain surgery, a chemical that kills neurons, to investigate the behavior of macrophages after injury. We hypothesized that macrophages would become more active after direct injury to the cochlea. Using immunofluorescence, we were able to observe the behavior of macrophages stained with anti ionized calcium binding adapter molecule 1 antibody (IBA1), which is found on the surface of macrophages. We found that after the model of acute injury, the number of macrophages in the cochlea increased and appeared more active based on their morphology. This information can lead to future studies about the types of macrophages and the specific healing role in acute injury.

Start Date

4-11-2015 8:30 AM

End Date

4-11-2015 8:45 AM

COinS
 
Apr 11th, 8:30 AM Apr 11th, 8:45 AM

Auditory Nerve Injury Induces Macrophage Activation

Macrophages are a special type of immune cell that engulfs dead or damaged cells. They are found everywhere in the body and become more active after damage to cells. Their role in healing acute injury in the mature mouse cochlea has not been fully determined. We used Ouabain surgery, a chemical that kills neurons, to investigate the behavior of macrophages after injury. We hypothesized that macrophages would become more active after direct injury to the cochlea. Using immunofluorescence, we were able to observe the behavior of macrophages stained with anti ionized calcium binding adapter molecule 1 antibody (IBA1), which is found on the surface of macrophages. We found that after the model of acute injury, the number of macrophages in the cochlea increased and appeared more active based on their morphology. This information can lead to future studies about the types of macrophages and the specific healing role in acute injury.