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1: Nat Neurosci. 2004 Dec;7(12):1310-8. Epub 2004 Nov 7.Click here to read Links

Math1 regulates development of the sensory epithelium in the mammalian cochlea.

Woods C, Montcouquiol M, Kelley MW.

Section on Developmental Neuroscience, National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Building 35, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.

The transcription factor Math1 (encoded by the gene Atoh1, also called Math1) is required for the formation of mechanosensory hair cells in the inner ear; however, its specific molecular role is unknown. Here we show that absence of Math1 in mice results in a complete disruption of formation of the sensory epithelium of the cochlea, including the development of both hair cells and associated supporting cells. In addition, ectopic expression of Math1 in nonsensory regions of the cochlea is sufficient to induce the formation of sensory clusters that contain both hair cells and supporting cells. The formation of these clusters is dependent on inhibitory interactions mediated, most probably, through the Notch pathway, and on inductive interactions that recruit cells to develop as supporting cells through a pathway independent of Math1. These results show that Math1 functions in the developing cochlea to initiate both inductive and inhibitory signals that regulate the overall formation of the sensory epithelia.

PMID: 15543141 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

2: Neuron. 2002 Aug 15;35(4):671-80.Click here to read Links

FGFR1 is required for the development of the auditory sensory epithelium.

Pirvola U, Ylikoski J, Trokovic R, Hébert JM, McConnell SK, Partanen J.

Institute of Biotechnology, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. ulla.pirvola@helsinki.fi

The mammalian auditory sensory epithelium, the organ of Corti, comprises the hair cells and supporting cells that are pivotal for hearing function. The origin and development of their precursors are poorly understood. Here we show that loss-of-function mutations in mouse fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (Fgfr1) cause a dose-dependent disruption of the organ of Corti. Full inactivation of Fgfr1 in the inner ear epithelium by Foxg1-Cre-mediated deletion leads to an 85% reduction in the number of auditory hair cells. The primary cause appears to be reduced precursor cell proliferation in the early cochlear duct. Thus, during development, FGFR1 is required for the generation of the precursor pool, which gives rise to the auditory sensory epithelium. Our data also suggest that FGFR1 might have a distinct later role in intercellular signaling within the differentiating auditory sensory epithelium.

PMID: 12194867 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

3: Mech Dev. 1998 Nov;78(1-2):159-63.Links

Distinct expression patterns of notch family receptors and ligands during development of the mammalian inner ear.

Lewis AK, Frantz GD, Carpenter DA, de Sauvage FJ, Gao WQ.

Department of Neuroscience, Genentech, Inc., South, San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.

The cochlea and vestibular structures of the inner ear labyrinth develop from the otic capsule via step-wise regional and cell fate specification. Each inner ear structure contains a sensory epithelium, composed of hair cells, the mechanosensory transducers, and supporting cells. We examined the spatio-temporal expression of genes in the Notch signaling pathway, Notch receptors (Notch1-4) and two ligands, Jagged1 and Delta1, in the developing mammalian inner ear. Our results show that Notch1 and Jagged1 are first expressed in the otic vesicle, likely involved in differentiation of the VIIIth nerve ganglion neurons, and subsequently within the inner ear sensory epithelia, temporally coincident with initial hair cell differentiation. Notch1 expression is specific to hair cells and Jagged1 to supporting cells. Their expression persists into adult. Notch2, Notch3, Notch4, and Delta1 are excluded from the inner ear epithelia. These data support the hypothesis that Notch signaling is involved in hair cell differentiation during inner ear morphogenesis. Copyright 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All Rights Reserved

PMID: 9858718 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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