The zebrafish merovingian mutant reveals a role for pH regulation in hair cell toxicity and function.

ABSTRACT: Control of the extracellular environment of inner ear hair cells by ionic transporters is crucial for hair cell function. In addition to inner ear hair cells, aquatic vertebrates have hair cells on the surface of their body in the lateral line system. The ionic environment of these cells also appears to be regulated, although the mechanisms of this regulation are less understood than those of the mammalian inner ear. We identified the merovingian mutant through genetic screening in zebrafish for genes involved in drug-induced hair cell death. Mutants show complete resistance to neomycin-induced hair cell death and partial resistance to cisplatin-induced hair cell death. This resistance is probably due to impaired drug uptake as a result of reduced mechanotransduction ability, suggesting th

SUBMITTER: Stawicki TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4073274 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature