Developmental Profiling of Spiral Ganglion Neurons Reveals Insights into Auditory Circuit Assembly

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2358-11.2011
• Publication Date: 2011-07-27T17:01:08Z
• Authors: C. C. Lu; J. M. Appler; E. A. Houseman; L. V. Goodrich
• Keywords: Spiral ganglion

The sense of hearing depends on the faithful transmission sound information from ear to brain by spiral ganglion (SG) neurons. However, how SG neurons develop connections and properties that underlie auditory processing is largely unknown. We catalogued gene expression in mouse embryonic day 12, when first extend projections, up until postnatal 15, after onset hearing. For comparison, we also analyzed closely related vestibular (VG). Gene ontology analysis confirmed enriched genes associated with regulation neurite outgrowth at early stages, VG often expressing different members same family. At later transcribe more mature function, exhibit a dramatic increase immune expression. Comparisons two populations revealed enhanced TGFβ pathway components established new markers consistently distinguish Unexpectedly, found Gata3, transcription factor commonly development, expressed stages. therefore defined cohorts factors axon guidance molecules are uniquely may drive auditory-specific aspects their differentiation wiring. show one these molecules, receptor guanylyl cyclase Npr2, required for bifurcation central axon. Hence, our dataset provides useful resource uncovering molecular basis specific circuit assembly events.