Expression Of Alpha 2-Na/K-Atpase In C57bl/6j Mice Inner Ear And Its Relationship With Age-Related Hearing Loss

K+ cycling in the cochlea is critical to maintain hearing. Many sodium-potassium pumps are proved to participate in K+ cycling, such as Na/K-ATPase. The alpha 2-Na/K-ATPase is an important isoform of Na/K-ATPase. The expression of alpha 2-Na/K-ATPase in the cochlea is not clear. In this study, we used C57BL/6 mice as a model of presbycusis and implemented immunohistochemistry staining and quantitative real time-PCR, and the alpha 2-Na/K-ATPase expression pattern was confirmed in the inner ear. It was found alpha 2-Na/K-ATPase was expressed widely in cochlea and its mRNA and protein expression was gradually reduced with aging (4-, 14-, 26- and 48-weeks old mice). We suspected that, the down-regulation of alpha 2-Na/K-ATPase expression might be associated with the remodeling of K+ cycling, degeneration of morphological structure and decrease of hearing function in aging C57 mice. In conclusion, we speculated that the reduction of alpha 2-Na/K-ATPase might play an important role in the pathogenesis of age-related hearing loss.