Organ of Corti and Stria Vascularis: Is there an Interdependence for Survival?

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168953
• Publication Date: 2017-01-09T21:46:31Z
• Authors: Huizhan Liu; Yi Li; Lei Chen; Qian Zhang; Ning Pan; David H. Nichols; Weiping J. Zhang; Bernd Fritzsch; David Z. Z. He
• Keywords: Endocochlear potential; Mechanotransduction

Cochlear hair cells and the stria vascularis are critical for normal hearing. Hair transduce mechanical stimuli into electrical signals, whereas is responsible generating endocochlear potential (EP), which driving force cell mechanotransduction. We questioned whether interdepend survival by using two mouse models. Atoh1 conditional knockout mice, lose all within four weeks after birth, were used to determine absence of would affect function stria. showed that morphology EP remained long time despite a complete loss cells. then model has an abnormal due mutation Mitf gene able survive sound signals without electrochemical environment in endolymph. A strial defect, reflected missing intermediate reduction EP, led systematic outer death from base apex postnatal day 18. However, 18-mV was sufficient survival. Surprisingly, inner less vulnerable EP. Our studies show essential adult survival, while do not depend on functional