A new mouse insertional mutation that causes sensorineural deafness and vestibular defects

Retinoic acid signaling regulates late stages of semicircular canal morphogenesis and otolith maintenance in the zebrafish inner ear

BACKGROUND

The vitamin A derivative all-trans retinoic acid (RA) regulates early stages of inner ear development. As the early disruption of the RA pathway results in profound mispatterning of the developing inner ear, this confounds analyses of specific roles in later stages. Therefore, we used the temporal-specific exposure of all-trans RA or diethylaminobenzaldehyde to evaluate RA functions in late otic development.

RESULTS

Perturbing late RA signaling causes behavioral defects analogous to those expected in larvae suffering from vestibular dysfunction. These larvae also demonstrate malformations of the semi-circular canals, as visualized through (a) use of the transgenic strain nkhspdmc12a, a fluorescent reporter expressed in otic epithelium; and (b) injection of the fluorescent lipophilic dye DiI. We also noted the altered expression of genes encoding ECM proteins or modifying enzymes. Other malformations of the inner ear observed in our work include the loss or reduced size of the utricular and saccular otoliths, suggesting a role for RA in otolith maintenance.

CONCLUSION

Our work has identified a previously undescribed late phase of RA activity in otic development, demonstrating that vestibular defects observed in human patients in relation to perturbed RA signaling are not solely due to its early disruption in otic development.

Identification and characterisation of spontaneous mutations causing deafness from a targeted knockout programme

Background

Mice carrying targeted mutations are important for investigating gene function and the role of genes in disease, but off-target mutagenic effects associated with the processes of generating targeted alleles, for instance using Crispr, and culturing embryonic stem cells, offer opportunities for spontaneous mutations to arise. Identifying spontaneous mutations relies on the detection of phenotypes segregating independently of targeted alleles, and having a broad estimate of the level of mutations generated by intensive breeding programmes is difficult given that many phenotypes are easy to miss if not specifically looked for. Here we present data from a large, targeted knockout programme in which mice were analysed through a phenotyping pipeline. Such spontaneous mutations segregating within mutant lines may confound phenotypic analyses, highlighting the importance of record-keeping and maintaining correct pedigrees.

Results

Twenty-five lines out of 1311 displayed different deafness phenotypes that did not segregate with the targeted allele. We observed a variety of phenotypes by Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) and behavioural assessment and isolated eight lines showing early-onset severe progressive hearing loss, later-onset progressive hearing loss, low frequency hearing loss, or complete deafness, with vestibular dysfunction. The causative mutations identified include deletions, insertions, and point mutations, some of which involve new genes not previously associated with deafness while others are new alleles of genes known to underlie hearing loss. Two of the latter show a phenotype much reduced in severity compared to other mutant alleles of the same gene. We investigated the ES cells from which these lines were derived and determined that only one of the 8 mutations could have arisen in the ES cell, and in that case, only after targeting. Instead, most of the non-segregating mutations appear to have occurred during breeding of mutant mice. In one case, the mutation arose within the wildtype colony used for expanding mutant lines.

Conclusions

Our data show that spontaneous mutations with observable effects on phenotype are a common side effect of intensive breeding programmes, including those underlying targeted mutation programmes. Such spontaneous mutations segregating within mutant lines may confound phenotypic analyses, highlighting the importance of record-keeping and maintaining correct pedigrees.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-022-01257-8.

Congenital Deafness and Recent Advances Towards Restoring Hearing Loss

Congenital hearing loss is the most common birth defect, estimated to affect 2-3 in every 1000 births. Currently there is no cure for hearing loss. Treatment options are limited to hearing aids for mild and moderate cases, and cochlear implants for severe and profound hearing loss. Here we provide a literature overview of the environmental and genetic causes of congenital hearing loss, common animal models and methods used for hearing research, as well as recent advances towards developing therapies to treat congenital deafness. © 2021 The Authors.

KCNK5 channels mostly expressed in cochlear outer sulcus cells are indispensable for hearing

In the cochlea, K(+) is essential for mechano-electrical transduction. Here, we explore cochlear structure and function in mice lacking K(+) channels of the two-pore domain family. A profound deafness associated with a decrease in endocochlear potential is found in adult Kcnk5(-/-) mice. Hearing occurs around postnatal day 19 (P19), and completely disappears 2 days later. At P19, Kcnk5(-/-) mice have a normal endolymphatic [K(+)] but a partly lowered endocochlear potential. Using Lac-Z as a gene reporter, KCNK5 is mainly found in outer sulcus Claudius', Boettcher's and root cells. Low levels of expression are also seen in the spiral ganglion, Reissner's membrane and stria vascularis. Essential channels (KCNJ10 and KCNQ1) contributing to K(+) secretion in stria vascularis have normal expression in Kcnk5(-/-) mice. Thus, KCNK5 channels are indispensable for the maintenance of hearing. Among several plausible mechanisms, we emphasize their role in K(+) recycling along the outer sulcus lateral route.

Noddy, a mouse harboring a missense mutation in protocadherin-15, reveals the impact of disrupting a critical interaction site between tip-link cadherins in inner ear hair cells

In hair cells of the inner ear, sound or head movement increases tension in fine filaments termed tip links, which in turn convey force to mechanosensitive ion channels to open them. Tip links are formed by a tetramer of two cadherin proteins: protocadherin 15 (PCDH15) and cadherin 23 (CDH23), which have 11 and 27 extracellular cadherin (EC) repeats, respectively. Mutations in either protein cause inner ear disorders in mice and humans. We showed recently that these two cadherins bind tip-to-tip in a "handshake" mode that involves the EC1 and EC2 repeats of both proteins. However, a paucity of appropriate animal models has slowed our understanding both of the interaction and of how mutations of residues within the predicted interface compromise tip link integrity. Here, we present noddy, a new mouse model for hereditary deafness. Identified in a forward genetic screen, noddy homozygotes lack inner ear function. Mapping and sequencing showed that noddy mutant mice harbor an isoleucine-to-asparagine (I108N) mutation in the EC1 repeat of PCDH15. Residue I108 interacts with CDH23 EC2 in the handshake and its mutation impairs the interaction in vitro. The noddy mutation allowed us to determine the consequences of blocking the handshake in vivo: tip link formation and bundle morphology are disrupted, and mechanotransduction channels fail to remain open at rest. These results offer new insights into the interaction between PCDH15 and CDH23 and help explain the etiology of human deafness linked to mutations in the tip-link interface.

Genetics of hearing and deafness

This article is a review of the genes and genetic disorders that affect hearing in humans and a few selected mouse models of deafness. Genetics is playing an increasingly critical role in the practice of medicine. This is not only in part to the importance that genetic knowledge has on traditional genetic diseases but also in part to the fact that genetic knowledge provides an understanding of the fundamental biological process of most diseases. The proteins coded by the genes related to hearing loss (HL) are involved in many functions in the ear, such as cochlear fluid homeostasis, ionic channels, stereocilia morphology and function, synaptic transmission, gene regulation, and others. Mouse models play a crucial role in understanding of the pathogenesis associated with these genes. Different types of familial HL have been recognized for years; however, in the last two decades, there has been tremendous progress in the discovery of gene mutations that cause deafness. Most of the cases of genetic deafness recognized today are monogenic disorders that can be broadly classified by the mode of inheritance (i.e., autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, X-linked, and mitochondrial inheritance) and by the presence of associated phenotypic features (i.e., syndromic; and nonsyndromic). In terms of nonsyndromic HL, the chromosomal locations are currently known for ∼ 125 loci (54 for dominant and 71 for recessive deafness), 64 genes have been identified (24 for dominant and 40 for recessive deafness), and there are many more loci for syndromic deafness and X-linked and mitochondrial DNA disorders (http://hereditaryhearingloss.org). Thus, today's clinician must understand the science of medical genetics as this knowledge can lead to more effective disease diagnosis, counseling, treatment, and prevention.

The sound of silence: mouse models for hearing loss

Sensorineural hearing loss is one of the most common disabilities in humans. It is estimated that about 278 million people worldwide have slight to extreme hearing loss in both ears, which results in an economic loss for the country and personal loss for the individual. It is thus critical to have a deeper understanding of the causes for hearing loss to better manage and treat the affected individuals. The mouse serves as an excellent model to study and recapitulate some of these phenotypes, identify new genes which cause deafness, and to study their roles in vivo and in detail. Mutant mice have been instrumental in elucidating the function and mechanisms of the inner ear. The development and morphogenesis of the inner ear from an ectodermal layer into distinct auditory and vestibular components depends on well-coordinated gene expression and well-orchestrated signaling cascades within the otic vesicle and interactions with surrounding layers of tissues. Any disruption in these pathways can lead to hearing impairment. This review takes a look at some of the genes and their corresponding mice mutants that have shed light on the mechanism governing hearing impairment (HI) in humans.

Proteomics, bioinformatics and targeted gene expression analysis reveals up-regulation of cochlin and identifies other potential biomarkers in the mouse model for deafness in Usher syndrome type 1F

Proteins and protein networks associated with cochlear pathogenesis in the Ames waltzer (av) mouse, a model for deafness in Usher syndrome 1F (USH1F), were identified. Cochlear protein from wild-type and av mice at postnatal day 30, a time point in which cochlear pathology is well established, was analyzed by quantitative 2D gel electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry (MS). The analytic gel resolved 2270 spots; 69 spots showed significant changes in intensity in the av cochlea compared with the control. The cochlin protein was identified in 20 peptide spots, most of which were up-regulated, while a few were down-regulated. Analysis of MS sequence data showed that, in the av cochlea, a set of full-length isoforms of cochlin was up-regulated, while isoforms missing the N-terminal FCH/LCCL domain were down-regulated. Protein interaction network analysis of all differentially expressed proteins was performed with Metacore software. That analysis revealed a number of statistically significant candidate protein networks predicted to be altered in the affected cochlea. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis of select candidates from the proteomic and bioinformatic investigations showed up-regulation of Coch mRNA and those of p53, Brn3a and Nrf2, transcription factors linked to stress response and survival. Increased mRNA of Brn3a and Nrf2 has previously been associated with increased expression of cochlin in human glaucomatous trabecular meshwork. Our report strongly suggests that increased level of cochlin is an important etiologic factor leading to the degeneration of cochlear neuroepithelia in the USH1F model.

The micromachinery of mechanotransduction in hair cells

Mechanical stimuli generated by head movements and changes in sound pressure are detected by hair cells with amazing speed and sensitivity. The mechanosensitive organelle, the hair bundle, is a highly elaborated structure of actin-based stereocilia arranged in precise rows of increasing height. Extracellular linkages contribute to its cohesion and convey forces to mechanically gated channels. Channel opening is nearly instantaneous and is followed by a process of sensory adaptation that keeps the channels poised in their most sensitive range. This process is served by motors, scaffolds, and homeostatic mechanisms. The molecular constituents of this process are rapidly being elucidated, especially by the discovery of deafness genes and antibody targets.

Auditory and vestibular defects and behavioral alterations after neonatal administration of streptomycin to Lewis rats: Similarities and differences to the circling (ci2/ci2) Lewis rat mutant

The clinical usefulness of aminoglycoside antibiotics is limited by their ototoxicity. In rodents, damage to the inner ear is often associated with rotational behavior and locomotor hyperactivity reminiscent of such behaviors resulting from an imbalance of forebrain dopamine systems. Based on previous observations in the circling (ci2/ci2) Lewis (LEW) rat mutant, a spontaneous mutation leading to hair cell loss, deafness, impairment of vestibular functions, lateralized circling, hyperactivity and alterations in the nigrostriatal dopamine system, we have recently hypothesized that vestibular defects during postnatal development, independent of whether induced or inherited, lead to secondary changes in the dopaminergic system within the basal ganglia, which would be a likely explanation for the typical behavioral phenotype seen in such models. In the present study, we directly compared the phenotype induced by streptomycin in LEW rats with that of the ci2 LEW rat mutant. For this purpose, we treated neonatal LEW rats over 3 weeks by streptomycin, which induced bilateral degeneration of cochlear and vestibular hair cells. Following this treatment period, the behavioral syndrome of the streptomycin-treated animals, including the lateralized rotational behavior, was almost indistinguishable from that of ci2 mutant rats. However, in contrast to the ci2 mutant rat, all alterations, except the hearing loss, were only transient, disappearing between 7 and 24 weeks following treatment. In conclusion, in line with our hypothesis, vestibular defects induced in normal LEW rats led to the same phenotypic behavior as the inherited vestibular defect of ci2 mutant rats. However, with increasing time for recovery, adaptation to the vestibular impairment developed in streptomycin-treated rats, while all deficits persisted in the mutant animals. At least in part, the transient nature of the abnormal behaviors resulting from treatment with streptomycin could be explained by adaptation to the vestibular impairment by the use of visual cues, which is not possible in ci2 rats because of progressive retinal degeneration in these mutants. Although further experiments are needed to prove this hypothesis, the present study shows that direct comparisons between these two models serve to understand the mechanisms underlying the complex behavioral phenotype in rodents with vestibular defects and how these defects are compensated.

A new spontaneous mutation in the mouse protocadherin 15 gene

We have characterized a new allele of the protocadherin 15 gene (designatedPcdh15(av-6J)) that arose as a spontaneous, recessive mutation in the C57BL/6J inbred strain at Jackson Laboratory. Analysis revealed an inframe deletion in Pcdh15, which is predicted to result in partial deletion of cadherin domain (domain 9) in Pcdh15. Morphologic study revealed normal to moderately defective cochlear hair cell stereocilia in Pcdh15(av-6J) mutants at postnatal day 2 (P2). Stereocilia abnormalities were consistently present at P5 and P10. Degenerative changes including loss of inner and outer hair cells were seen at P20, with severe sensory cell loss in all cochlear turns occurring by P40. The hair cell phenotype observed in the 6J allele between P0 and P20 is the least severe phenotype yet observed in Pcdh15 alleles. However, young Pcdh15(av-6J) mice are unresponsive to auditory stimulation and show circling behavior indicative of vestibular dysfunction. Since these animals show severe functional deficits but have relatively mild stereocilia defects at a young age they may provide an appropriate model to test for a direct role of Pcdh15 in mechanotransduction.

Progression of inner ear pathology in Ames waltzer mice and the role of protocadherin 15 in hair cell development

The Ames waltzer (av) mouse mutant exhibits auditory and vestibular abnormalities resulting from mutation of protocadherin 15 (Pcdh15). Ames waltzer has been identified as an animal model for inner ear pathology associated with Usher syndrome type 1F. Studies correlating anatomical phenotype with severity of genetic defect in various av alleles are providing better understanding of the role played by Pcdh15 in inner ear development and of sensorineural abnormalities associated with alterations in Pcdh15 protein structure as a result of gene mutation. In this work we present new findings on inner ear pathology in four alleles of av mice with differing mutations of Pcdh15 as well as varying alterations in inner ear morphology. Two alleles with in-frame deletion mutations (Pcdh15 (av-J) and Pcdh15 (av-2J)) and two presumptive functional null alleles (Pcdh15 (av-3J) and Pcdh15 (av-Tg)) were studied. Light and electron microscopic observations demonstrated that the severity of cochlear and vestibular pathology in these animals correlates positively with the extent of mutation in Pcdh15 from embryonic day 18 (E18) up to 12 months. Electron microscopic analysis of immature ears indicated early abnormalities in the arrangement of stereocilia and the inner and outer hair cell cuticular plates, stereocilia rootlets, and the actin meshwork within the cuticular plate. In severe cases, displacement of the kinocilium and alterations in the shape of the cuticular plate was also observed. Mice harboring in-frame deletion mutations showed less disorganization of stereocilia and cuticular plates in the organ of Corti than the presumptive functional null alleles at P0-P10. A slower progression of pathology was also seen via light microscopy in older animals with in-frame deletions, compared to the presumptive functional null mutations. In summary, our results demonstrate that mutation in Pcdh15 affects the initial formation of stereocilia bundles with associated changes in the actin meshwork within the cuticular plate; these effects are more pronounced in the presumed null mutation compared to mutations that only affect the extracellular domain. The positive correlation of severity of effects with extent of mutation can be seen well into adulthood.

Characterization of vestibular dysfunction in the mouse model for Usher syndrome 1F

The deaf-circling Ames waltzer (av) mouse harbors a mutation in the protocadherin 15 (Pcdh15) gene and is a model for inner ear defects associated with Usher syndrome type 1F. Earlier studies showed altered cochlear hair cell morphology in young av mice. In contrast, no structural abnormality consistent with significant vestibular dysfunction in young av mice was observed. Light and scanning electron microscopic studies showed that vestibular hair cells from presumptive null alleles Pcdh15(av-Tg) and Pcdh15(av-3J) are morphologically similar to vestibular sensory cells from control littermates, suggesting that the observed phenotype in these alleles might be a result of a central, rather than peripheral, defect. In the present study, a combination of physiologic and anatomic methods was used to more thoroughly investigate the source of vestibular dysfunction in Ames waltzer mice. Analysis of vestibular evoked potentials and angular vestibulo-ocular reflexes revealed a lack of physiologic response to linear and angular acceleratory stimuli in Pcdh15 mutant mice. Optokinetic reflex function was diminished but still present in the mutant animals, suggesting that the defect is primarily peripheral in nature. These findings indicate that the mutation in Pcdh15 results in either a functional abnormality in the vestibular receptor organs or that the defects are limited to the vestibular nerve. AM1-43 dye uptake has been shown to correlate with normal transduction function in hair cells. Dye uptake was found to be dramatically reduced in Pcdh15 mutants compared to control littermates, suggesting that the mutation affects hair cell function, although structural abnormalities consistent with significant vestibular dysfunction are not apparent by light and scanning electron microscopy in the vestibular neuroepithelia of young animals.

Characterization of a new allele of Ames waltzer generated by ENU mutagenesis

Mutation in the protocadherin 15 (Pcdh15) gene causes hair cell dysfunction and is associated with abnormal stereocilia development. We have characterized the first allele (Pcdh15(av-nmf19)) of Ames waltzer (av) obtained by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis. Pcdh15(av-nmf19) was generated in the Neuroscience Mutagenesis Facility (NMF) at The Jackson Lab (Bar Habor, USA). Pcdh15(av-nmf19) mutants display circling and abnormal swimming behavior along with lack of auditory-evoked brainstem response at the highest intensities tested. Mutation analysis shows base substitution (A--> G) in the consensus splice donor sequence linked to exon 14 resulting in the skipping of exon 14 and the splicing of exon 13-15. This results in the introduction of a stop codon in the coding sequence of exon 15 due to shift in the reading frame. The effect of nmf19 mutation is expected to be severe since the expressed Pcdh15 protein is predicted to truncate in the 5th cadherin domain. Abnormalities of cochlear hair cell stereocilia are apparent in Pcdh15(av-nmf19) mutants near the time of birth and by about P15 (15 days after birth) there is evidence of sensory cell degeneration. Disorganization of outer hair cell stereocilia is observed as early as P2. Inner hair cell stereocilia are also affected, but less severely than those of the outer hair cells. These results are consistent with characteristics of the mutation in the Pcdh15(av-nmf19) allele and they support our previous finding that Protocadherin 15 plays an important role in hair-bundle morphogenesis.

Development and properties of stereociliary link types in hair cells of the mouse cochlea

The hair bundles of outer hair cells in the mature mouse cochlea possess three distinct cell-surface specializations: tip links, horizontal top connectors, and tectorial membrane attachment crowns. Electron microscopy was used to study the appearance and maturation of these link types and examine additional structures transiently associated with the developing hair bundle. At embryonic day 17.5 (E17.5), the stereocilia are interconnected by fine lateral links and have punctate elements distributed over their surface. Oblique tip links are also seen at this stage. By postnatal day 2 (P2), outer hair cell bundles have a dense cell coat, but have lost many of the lateral links seen at E17.5. At P2, ankle links appear around the base of the bundle and tectorial membrane attachment crowns are seen at the stereociliary tips. Ankle links become less apparent by P9 and are completely lost by P12. The appearance of horizontal top connectors, which persist into adulthood, occurs concomitant with this loss of ankle links. Treatment with the calcium chelator BAPTA or the protease subtilisin enabled these links to be further distinguished. Ankle links are susceptible to both treatments, tip links are only sensitive to BAPTA, and tectorial membrane attachment crowns are removed by subtilisin but not BAPTA. The cell-coat material is partially sensitive to subtilisin alone, while horizontal top connectors resist both treatments. These results indicate there is a rich, rapidly changing array of different links covering the developing hair bundle that becomes progressively refined to generate the mature complement by P19.

Genetically modified laboratory animals--what welfare problems do they face?

In this article, we respond to public concern expressed about the welfare of genetically modified (GM) nonhuman animals. As a contribution to the debate on this subject, we attempt in this article to determine in what situations the practice of genetic modification in rodents may generate significant welfare problems. After a brief discussion of the principles of animal welfare, we focus on the problem of animal suffering and review some types of gene modifications likely to cause predictable welfare problems. In this article, we also consider suffering that may be involved in the process of generating GM animals. Finally, we discuss the role of GM animals in attempts to reduce, replace, and refine the use of animals in research.

A new spontaneous mutation in the mouse Ames waltzer gene, Pcdh15

A recessive deafness mutation in the mouse arose spontaneously and was identified in a colony segregating a null allele of the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (Grpr) locus. Auditory-evoked brain stem response measurements revealed deafness in 7-week-old affected mice. By linkage analyses, the mutant phenotype was mapped near marker D10Mit186 and the protocadherin gene Pcdh15. As shown by complementation testing, the new mutation is allelic with Ames waltzer (Pcdh15(av)). Sequencing mutant-derived brain Pcdh15 cDNAs identified the insertion of a cytosine residue at nucleotide position c2099 (2099insC), which results in a frame-shift and premature stop codon. Abnormal stereocilia on inner and outer hair cells of the organ of Corti were identified by scanning electron microscopy as early as postnatal day 0 and cross-sectional histology revealed severe neuroepithelial degeneration in cochleas of 30-50-day-old mutants. The new allele of Ames waltzer, designated Pcdh15(av-Jfb), may aid in studying the histopathology associated with Usher syndrome type 1F, which is caused by a functional null allele of PCDH15.

Vestibular dysgenesis in mice lacking Abr and Bcr Cdc42/RacGAPs

The inner ear develops from a simple epithelium (otic placode) into the complex structures specialized for balance (vestibule) and sound (cochlea) detection. Abnormal vestibular and cochlear development is associated with many birth defects. During recent years, considerable progress has been made in understanding the molecular bases of these conditions. To determine the biological function of two closely related GTPase activating proteins for the Cdc42/Rac GTPases, Abr and Bcr, we generated a mouse strain deficient in both of these proteins. Double null mutant mice exhibit hyperactivity, persistent circling, and are unable to swim. These phenotypes are typically found in mice with vestibular defects. Indeed, adult double null mutants display abnormal dysmorphic structures of both the saccule and utricle. Moreover, a total loss of otoconia can be seen in the utricle, whereas in the saccule, otoconia are either missing or their number is drastically decreased and they are abnormally large. Interestingly, both the cochlea and semicircular canals are normal and the double null mutant mice are not deaf. These data demonstrate that Abr and Bcr play important complementary roles during vestibular morphogenesis and that a function of Cdc42/RacGAPs and, therefore, that of the small Rho-related GTPases is critically important for balance and motor coordination.

The functional and structural outcome of inner ear gene transfer via the vestibular and cochlear fluids in mice

Mice present an ideal model for inner ear gene therapy because their genome is being rapidly sequenced, their generation time is relatively short, and they serve as a valuable model for human hereditary inner ear disease. However, the small size of the mouse inner ear poses a particular challenge for surgical procedures. We have developed a new approach for viral inoculation into the mature mouse inner ear, using a replication-deficient adenovirus expressing the bacterial gene lacZ. We administered the virus through the posterior semicircular canal (canalostomy) and into the cochlea (cochleostomy). Both approaches caused lacZ to be expressed in cells lining the perilymphatic space. One canalostomy case showed gene expression in sensory cells of the crista ampullaris, whereas the cochleostomy group showed gene expression in the sensory cells in the organ of Corti and saccule. Functional tests after the surgery showed that the canalostomy preserved hearing, whereas the cochleostomy did not. Any vestibular function transiently lost after the canalostomy was recovered. Our findings indicate that inoculation of adenovirus vectors into the mouse inner ear through the semicircular canal has the potential to efficiently introduce transgenes to the vestibular system and the cochlea without compromising hearing.

Auditory and vestibular defects in the circling (ci2) rat mutant

The circling rat is an autosomal recessive mutant (homozygous ci2/ci2) that displays lateralized circling behaviour, locomotor hyperactivity, ataxia and stereotypic head-movement. These abnormal behaviours occur in phases or bursts either spontaneously or in response to stress. Heterozygous (ci2/+) littermates display normal spontaneous behaviours. We have previously found that ci2/ci2 rats of both genders have a lower tissue content of dopamine in the striatum ipsilateral to the preferred direction of rotation, indicating that the rats turn away from the brain hemisphere with higher striatal dopaminergic activity. In view of the similarities of the motor syndrome of the ci2/ci2 mutant rat to that of mouse deafness mutants, the present study evaluated the hearing ability of the circling rat mutant by recording brainstem auditory-evoked potentials. To test for vestibular dysfunction, a swimming test was conducted. Histological methods were used to examine the cochlear and vestibular parts of the inner ear and the cochlear and vestibular brainstem nuclei for defects. The absence of auditory-evoked potentials demonstrated a complete hearing loss in the adult ci2/ci2 mutant rat, whereas heterozygous littermates exhibited auditory-evoked potentials with thresholds resembling those of other laboratory strains. Furthermore, the mutant rats were unable to swim. Histological analysis of the inner ear of adult mutants revealed virtually complete loss of the cochlear neuroepithelium, while no such hair cell degeneration was seen in the vestibular parts of the inner ear. However, part of the vestibular hair cells showed protrusions into the endolymphatic space, suggesting alterations in the cytoskeletal architecture. The histological findings in mutant circling rats strongly indicate that the hearing loss of the mutants is of the sensory neural type, the most prevalent type of hearing loss. In the cochlear nuclei of the brain stem of mutant rats, neurons exhibited an abnormal shape, reduced size and increased density compared to controls. In contrast, no abnormal neuronal morphology was seen in the vestibular nuclei, but a significantly reduced neuronal density was found in the medial vestibular nucleus. Abnormal vestibular function would be a likely explanation for the disturbed balance of mutant rats as exemplified by the ataxia and the inability to swim, whereas the previous data on these rats strongly indicate an involvement of the basal ganglia in the abnormal circling behaviour. The genetic defect in the mutant rats, thus, results in a clinical syndrome with features also seen in human genetic disorders with deafness and hyperkinesia, making the ci2/ci2 rat an excellent model for investigating both cochlear/vestibular dysfunction and hyperkinetic movement disorders.

The mouse Ames waltzer hearing-loss mutant is caused by mutation of Pcdh15, a novel protocadherin gene

The neuroepithelia of the inner ear contain hair cells that function as mechanoreceptors to transduce sound and motion signals. Mutations affecting these neuroepithelia cause deafness and vestibular dysfuction in humans. Ames waltzer (av) is a recessive mutation found in mice that causes deafness and a balance disorder associated with the degeneration of inner ear neuroepithelia. Here we report that the gene that harbours the av mutation encodes a novel protocadherin. Cochlear hair cells in the av mutants show abnormal stereocilia by 10 days after birth (P10). This is the first evidence for the requirement of a protocadherin for normal function of the mammalian inner ear.

The combined functions of proapoptotic Bcl-2 family members bak and bax are essential for normal development of multiple tissues

Proapoptotic Bcl-2 family members have been proposed to play a central role in regulating apoptosis. However, mice lacking bax display limited phenotypic abnormalities. As presented here, bak(-/-) mice were found to be developmentally normal and reproductively fit and failed to develop any age-related disorders. However, when Bak-deficient mice were mated to Bax-deficient mice to create mice lacking both genes, the majority of bax(-/-)bak(-/-) animals died perinatally with fewer than 10% surviving into adulthood. bax(-/-)bak(-/-) mice displayed multiple developmental defects, including persistence of interdigital webs, an imperforate vaginal canal, and accumulation of excess cells within both the central nervous and hematopoietic systems. Thus, Bax and Bak have overlapping roles in the regulation of apoptosis during mammalian development and tissue homeostasis.

Neuroepithelial defects of the inner ear in a new allele of the mouse mutation Ames waltzer

This report presents new findings regarding a recessive insertional mutation in the transgenic line TgN2742Rpw that causes deafness and circling behavior in mice homozygous for the mutation. The mutant locus was mapped to a region on mouse chromosome 10 close to three spontaneous recessive mutations causing deafness: Ames waltzer (av), Waltzer (v), and Jackson circler (jc). Complementation testing revealed that the TgN2742Rpw mutation is allelic with av. Histological and auditory brainstem response (ABR) evaluation of animals that have the new allele balanced with the av(J) allele (called compound heterozygotes, TgN2742Rpw/av(J)) supports our genetic analysis. ABR evaluation shows complete absence of auditory response throughout the life span of TgN2742Rpw/av(J) compound heterozygotes. Scanning electron microscopy revealed abnormalities of inner and outer hair cell stereocilia in the cochleae of TgN2742Rpw mutants at 10 days after birth (DAB). The organ of Corti subsequently undergoes degeneration, leading to nearly complete loss of the cochlear neuroepithelium in older mutants by about 50 DAB. The vestibular neuroepithelia remain morphologically normal until at least 30 DAB. However, by 50 days, degenerative changes are evident in the saccular macula, which progresses to total loss of the saccular neuroepithelium in older animals. The new allele of av reported here will be designated av(TgN2742Rpw).