Spontaneous regeneration of cochlear supporting cells after neonatal ablation ensures hearing in the adult mouse.

ABSTRACT: Supporting cells in the cochlea play critical roles in the development, maintenance, and function of sensory hair cells and auditory neurons. Although the loss of hair cells or auditory neurons results in sensorineural hearing loss, the consequence of supporting cell loss on auditory function is largely unknown. In this study, we specifically ablated inner border cells (IBCs) and inner phalangeal cells (IPhCs), the two types of supporting cells surrounding inner hair cells (IHCs) in mice in vivo. We demonstrate that the organ of Corti has the intrinsic capacity to replenish IBCs/IPhCs effectively during early postnatal development. Repopulation depends on the presence of hair cells and cells within the greater epithelial ridge and is independent of cell proliferation. This plastic response

SUBMITTER: Mellado Lagarde MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4250150 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature