Hearing development and spiral ganglion neurite growth in VASP deficient mice

Auditory brainstem development of naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber)

Life underground often leads to animals having specialized auditory systems to accommodate the constraints of acoustic transmission in tunnels. Despite living underground, naked mole-rats use a highly vocal communication system, implying that they rely on central auditory processing. However, little is known about these animals' central auditory system, and whether it follows a similar developmental time course as other rodents. Naked mole-rats show slowed development in the hippocampus suggesting they have altered brain development compared to other rodents. Here, we measured morphological characteristics and voltage-gated potassium channel K_v3.3 expression and protein levels at different key developmental time points (postnatal days 9, 14, 21 and adulthood) to determine whether the auditory brainstem (lateral superior olive and medial nucleus of the trapezoid body) develops similarly to two common auditory rodent model species: gerbils and mice. Additionally, we measured the hearing onset of naked mole-rats using auditory brainstem response recordings at the same developmental timepoints. In contrast with other work in naked mole-rats showing that they are highly divergent in many aspects of their physiology, we show that naked mole-rats have a similar hearing onset, between postnatal day (P) 9 and P14, to many other rodents. On the other hand, we show some developmental differences, such as a unique morphology and K_v3.3 protein levels in the brainstem.

Electrophysiological characterization of acutely isolated spiral ganglion neurons in neonatal and mature sonic hedgehog knock-in mice

Spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) are primary afferent auditory neurons activated by inner hair cells in mammalian cochlea. Here, for the convenience of SGN studies such as patch-clamp or single cell RNA-sequence studies, a knock-in mouse (Shh^CreEGFP/+; Rosa26-Tdtomato^loxp/+) was generated for the purpose of obtaining fluorescence SGNs. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) and Tuj1 immunohistochemistry staining were performed to verify the hearing function and the morphological characteristics. The results showed that there was no significant difference between shh and wild type mice. In electrophysiological studies, we verified a series of electrophysiological characteristics including the amplitude of sodium and potassium currents and action potential characteristics of shh and wild type mice and no significant differences were found either. From the above, shh mice have the same cell function and morphology as their littermate control wild type mice and could be used as an ideal tool to study the function and characteristics of spiral ganglion neurons. Potassium channels of SGNs play an important role in resolving time accuracy. We obtained similar amplitude of I_K⁺ in neonatal and mature mice in the aging competition experiment, however, the density of I_K⁺ from mature mice were significantly different from those of neonatal mice, a phenomenon that may play a key role in the nervous system. Potassium channels have been shown to contribute to apoptosis induced by cisplatin administration in various cell lines. Here we used cisplatin administration to study the ototoxicity and found that the effects of a low dose of cisplatin (0.5 mM correspond to therapeutic doses) causes a decrease in currents and is reversible after a short administration time. Moreover, we propose the activated state of potassium channels has changed but the characteristic and number remain still after cisplatin administration. The excess potassium ions may accumulate in the cell body, which had affected the firing properties and induce cytotoxicity and apoptosis. We suggest that the electrophysiological properties of acutely isolated SGNs may support further research on the mechanics of auditory propagation and ion channel pharmacology.

Peptides actively transported across the tympanic membrane: Functional and structural properties

Otitis media (OM) is the most common infectious disease of children under six, causing more antibiotic prescriptions and surgical procedures than any other pediatric condition. By screening a bacteriophage (phage) library genetically engineered to express random peptides on their surfaces, we discovered unique peptides that actively transport phage particles across the intact tympanic membrane (TM) and into the middle ear (ME). Herein our goals were to characterize the physiochemical peptide features that may underlie trans-TM phage transport; assess morphological and functional effects of phage peptides on the ME and inner ear (IE); and determine whether peptide-bearing phage transmigrate from the ME into the IE. Incubation of five peptide-bearing phage on the TM for over 4hrs resulted in demonstrably superior transport of one peptide, in level and in exponential increase over time. This suggests a preferred peptide motif for TM active transport. Functional and structural comparisons revealed unique features of this peptide: These include a central lysine residue, isoelectric point of 0.0 at physiological pH and a hydrophobic C-terminus. When the optimal peptide was applied to the TM independent of phage, similar transport was observed, indicating that integration into phage is not required. When 10⁹ particles of the four different trans-TM phage were applied directly into the ME, no morphological effects were detected in the ME or IE when compared to saline or wild-type (WT) phage controls. Comparable, reversible hearing loss was observed for saline controls, WT phage and trans-TM peptide phage, suggesting a mild conductive hearing loss due to ME fluid. Perilymph titers after ME incubation established that few copies of trans-TM peptide phage crossed into the IE. The results suggest that, within the parameters tested, trans-TM peptides are safe and could be used as potential agents for noninvasive delivery of drugs, particles and gene therapy vectors to the ME.

TFE2 and GATA3 enhance induction of POU4F3 and myosin VIIa positive cells in nonsensory cochlear epithelium by ATOH1

Transcription factors (TFs) can regulate different sets of genes to determine specific cell types by means of combinatorial codes. We previously identified closely-spaced TF binding motifs located 8.2-8.5 kb 5' to the ATG of the murine Pou4f3 gene, a gene required for late hair cell (HC) differentiation and survival. These motifs, 100% conserved among four mammalian species, include a cluster of E-boxes preferred by TCF3/ATOH1 heterodimers as well as motifs for GATA factors and SP1. We hypothesized that these factors might interact to regulate the Pou4f3 gene and possibly induce a HC phenotype in non-sensory cells of the cochlea. Cochlear sensory epithelium explants were prepared from postnatal day 1.5 transgenic mice in which expression of GFP is driven by 8.5 kb of Pou4f3 5' genomic DNA (Pou4f3/GFP). Electroporation was used to transfect cells of the greater epithelial ridge with multiple plasmids encoding human ATOH1 (hATOH1), hTCF3 (also known as E2A or TEF2), hGATA3, and hSP1. hATOH1 or hTCF3 alone induced Pou4f3/GFP cells but hGATA3 and hSP1 did not. hATOH1 but not hTCF3 induced conversion of greater epithelial ridge cells into Pou4f3/GFP and myosin VIIa double-positive cells. Transfection of hATOH1 in combination with hTCF3 or hGATA3 induced 2-3X more Pou4f3/GFP cells, and similarly enhanced Pou4f3/GFP and myosin VIIa double-positive cells, when compared to hATOH1 alone. Triple or quadruple TF combinations were generally not more effective than double TF combinations except in the middle turn, where co-transfection of hATOH1, hE2A, and hGATA3 was more effective than hATOH1 plus either hTCF3 or hGATA3. The results demonstrate that TFs can cooperate in regulation of the Pou4f3 gene and in the induction of at least one other element of a HC phenotype. Our data further indicate that combinations of TFs can be more effective than individual TFs in the inner ear.

Auditory development in progressive motor neuronopathy mouse mutants

The present study was performed to elucidate the hearing development in the progressive motor neuronopathy (pmn) mouse mutant. This mouse has been used as a model for human motoneuron disease. A missense mutation in the tubulin-specific chaperon E (Tbce) gene on mouse chromosome 13 was localized as the underlying genetic defect. The protein encoded by the Tbce gene is essential for the formation of primary tubulin complexes. Studies on motoneurons show disorganization in microtubules and disturbed axonal transport, followed by retrograde degeneration of the motoneurons. A similar pathomechanism is also possible for hearing disorders where disrupted microtubules could cause functional deficits in spiral ganglion neurons or in cochlear hair cells. Click auditory brainstem response (ABR) audiometry in homozygous pmn mutants showed a normal onset of hearing, but an increasing hearing threshold from postnatal day 26 (P26) on to death, compared to heterozygous mutants and wild-type mice. Histological sections of the cochlea at different ages showed a regular morphology. Additionally, spiral ganglion explants from mutant and wild-type mice were cultured. The neurite length from pmn mutants was shorter than in wild-type mice, and the neurite number/explant was significantly decreased in pmn mutants. We show that the pmn mouse mutant is a model for a progressive rapid hearing loss from P26 on, after initially normal hearing development. Heterozygous mice are not affected by this defect. With the knowledge of the well-known pathomechanism of this defect in motoneurons, a dysfunction of cellular mechanisms regulating tubulin assembling suggests that tubulin assembling plays an essential role in hearing function and maintenance.

cGK substrates

Signalling of cGK (cGMP-dependent protein kinases) are mediated through phosphorylation of specific substrates. Several substrates of cGKI and cGKII were identified meanwhile. Some cGKI substrates are specifically regulated by the cGKIalpha or the cGKIbeta isozyme. In various cells and tissues, different cGK substrates exist that are essential for the regulation of diverse functions comprising tissue contractility, cell motility, cell contact, cellular secretion, cell proliferation, and cell differentiation. On the molecular level, cGKI substrates fulfill various cellular functions regulating e.g. the intracellular calcium and potassium concentration, the calcium sensitivity, and the organisation of the intracellular cytoskeleton. cGKII substrates are involved e.g. in chloride transport, sodium/proton transport and transcriptional regulation. The understanding of cGK signalling and function depends strongly on the identification of further specific substrates. In the last years, diverse approaches ranging from biochemistry to genetic deletion lead to the identification and establishment of several substrates, which raised new insights in the molecular mechanisms of cGK functions and elucidated new cellular cGK functions. However, the analysis of the dynamic signalling of cGK in tissues and cells will be necessary to discover new signalling pathways and substrates.