A gradient of Bmp7 specifies the tonotopic axis in the developing inner ear.

ABSTRACT: The auditory systems of animals that perceive sounds in air are organized to separate sound stimuli into their component frequencies. Individual tones then stimulate mechanosensory hair cells located at different positions on an elongated frequency (tonotopic) axis. During development, immature hair cells located along the axis must determine their tonotopic position in order to generate frequency-specific characteristics. Expression profiling along the developing tonotopic axis of the chick basilar papilla (BP) identified a gradient of Bmp7. Disruption of that gradient in vitro or in ovo induces changes in hair cell morphologies consistent with a loss of tonotopic organization and the formation of an organ with uniform frequency characteristics. Further, the effects of Bmp7 in determinati

SUBMITTER: Mann ZF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4264580 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature