Topic: Inner ear

Background: ATOH1 is recognized as a crucial transcription factor for hair cell differentiation. Although Atoh1 expression has been documented in a subset of developing spiral ganglion neurons, its specific role in neuronal development remains to be elucidated.Methods: We generated a novel conditional deletion model (Atoh1Cre-Isl1CKO) targeting Isl1 in the inner ear. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine morphological and cellular changes in the inner ear. Additionally, we assessed the hearing function of Atoh1Cre-Isl1CKO mutants compared to littermate control mice using auditory brainstem

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a growing number of 0.5 billion people currently suffer from disabling hearing loss (HL). While causes of HL are diverse, it mainly originates in dysfunctions of the inner ear. Recent improvements in light sheet fluorescence microscopy allow nanometric examination of the whole intact cochlea in immunohistochemistry. These findings may help to identify and quantify disease mechanisms on a new scale and aid in the development of new treatment options for patients with severe HL. In this study, we assess the nano-architecture of the cochlea using