Abstract
Background:Atoh1, also named Math1, is essential for the development of inner ear hair cells. Many studies have confirmed that the absence of Atoh1 resulted in a total loss of inner ear hair cells, which indicates that Atoh1 plays very similar roles in the development of hair cells in the cochlea and vestibule. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether Atoh1 plays different roles in the cochlea and vestibule. Material and methods: We generated Atoh1-null mice by inbreeding Atoh1 cre/+ heterozygous mice and compared with the epithelial cell status of the cochlea and vestibule. Results: We found that no inner ear hair cells were detected in Atoh1-null mice. However, a different cell status was found in the mutant cochlea and vestibule on the last embryonic day (E18.5). In the Atoh1-null cochlea, the epithelial cells that should develop into hair cells were totally absent, while in the Atoh1-null vestibule, most of the epithelial cells that should develop into hair cells still survived. Conclusions: Our data indicate that Atoh1 may have similar but partially different functions in the development of hair cells in the cochlea and vestibule.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 972-976 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Acta Oto-Laryngologica |
Volume | 138 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 2 2018 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Atoh1
- cochlea
- development
- different function
- hair cells
- vestibule
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Otorhinolaryngology