Key to Developing Auditory Neurons Discovered

To treat congenital and acquired hearing impairment, scientists from University of California, San Diego have made a novel advancement that would open new avenues for developing drugs.

To treat congenital and acquired hearing hearing impairment, scientists from University of California, San Diego have made a novel advancement that would open new avenues for developing drugs.

Loss of spiral ganglion neurons or hair cells in the inner ear is the leading cause of congenital and acquired hearing impairment.

Presbycusis (Age-related Hearing Loss)-Causes-Symptoms-Diagnosis-Treatment-FAQs
Presbycusis (age related hearing loss) is the gradual loss of hearing that occurs as people get older. Presbycusis involves progressive sensorineural hearing loss.

They have found that Sox2, a protein that regulates stem cell formation, is involved in spiral ganglion neuron development.

"These findings may provide the first step toward regenerating spiral ganglion neurons, the nerve cells that send sound representations to the brain," said Dr Alain Dabdoub, co-investigator and assistant professor of surgery with the division of otolaryngology at the UC San Diego School of Medicine.

"This has significant implications for advances in cochlear implant technology and biological treatments for hearing loss," Dabdoub added.

Gene Linked to Rare Form of Progressive Hearing Loss in Males Identified
A gene associated with a rare form of progressive deafness in males has been identified by scientists.

In the cochlea, auditory neurons transmit sound vibrations conveyed by hair cells. These vibrations are then converted to nerve impulses that communicate with the brain. If the neurons are lost or damaged, hearing loss occurs.

"The identification of factors that induce functional neurons has important implications for hearing restoration," said Dr Chandrakala Puligilla, a research fellow at the National Institutes of Health.

GPs Play Major Role in Identifying and Treating Hearing Loss
General Practitioners should play a bigger role in the detection and treatment of age-related hearing loss.

"The ability to induce even a small number of cells with gene-based therapy could be enormously beneficial," Puligilla added.

The study demonstrates a novel role for Sox2 in ear development showing that Sox2 is critical for the production of auditory neurons and that generating new neurons is possible.

Experts Stress Need for Follow-up Evaluation of Children Who Fail Hearing Loss Screening
Newborns that fail their first hearing screening test could be susceptible to delays in language development if there is no follow-up treatment..

The study was published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

Source-ANI
TRI