The Atoh1 expression levels are correlated with the arrangement, ciliary morphology, and electrophysiological characteristics of ectopic hair cell-like cells

Publication date: Available online 13 January 2020Source: Neuroscience LettersAuthor(s): Yu Zheng, Wenwei Luo, Rui Ma, Ning Cong, Dongdong Ren, Fanglu Chi, Juanmei YangAbstractPrevious reports have suggested that the level and duration of Atoh1 expression are correlated with the survival, arrangement and stereociliary bundle-related morphology of hair cells during development, but whether Atoh1 expression levels are correlated with the arrangement, bundle formation and electrophysiological characteristics of newly formed hair cells is unknown. To address this question, cultured cochlear explants obtained from neonatal rats were treated with different titers of a human adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) vector encoding Atoh1 and/or EGFP (EGFP-Atoh1+/-). The results showed that higher EGFP-Atoh1 concentrations led to higher initial Atoh1 mRNA expression levels and induced greater numbers of ectopic hair cell-like cells (EHCLCs) in the lesser epithelial ridge (LER). Furthermore, gradual increases in the number of EHCLCs were associated with the progressive conversion of the LER region similarly to that of hair cells during development. Some of the cilia on EHCLCs with higher Atoh1 expression were regularly arranged in a manner similar to that of normal hair bundles. As demonstrated through patch clamp recordings, high Atoh1 expression was associated with significantly decreased proportions of cells with Ih currents, significantly reduced proportions of transient potassium channel curre...
Source: Neuroscience Letters - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research