| First Author | Xiang M | Year | 1997 |
| Journal | Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A | Volume | 94 |
| Issue | 17 | Pages | 9445-50 |
| PubMed ID | 9256502 | Mgi Jnum | J:42478 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:1095801 | Doi | 10.1073/pnas.94.17.9445 |
| Citation | Xiang M, et al. (1997) Essential role of POU-domain factor Brn-3c in auditory and vestibular hair cell development. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 94(17):9445-50 |
| abstractText | The Brn-3 subfamily of POU-domain transcription factor genes consists of three highly homologous members-Brn-3a, Brn-3b, and Brn-3c-that are expressed in sensory neurons and in a small number of brainstem nuclei. This paper describes the role of Brn-3c in auditory and vestibular system development. In the inner ear, the Brn-3c protein is found only in auditory and vestibular hair cells, and the Brn-3a and Brn-3b proteins are found only in subsets of spiral and vestibular ganglion neurons. Mice carrying a targeted deletion of the Brn-3c gene are deaf and have impaired balance. These defects reflect a complete loss of auditory and vestibular hair cells during the late embryonic and early postnatal period and a secondary loss of spiral and vestibular ganglion neurons. Together with earlier work demonstrating a loss of trigeminal ganglion neurons and retinal ganglion cells in mice carrying targeted disruptions in the Brn-3a and Brn-3b genes, respectively, the Brn-3c phenotype reported here demonstrates that each of the Brn-3 genes plays distinctive roles in the somatosensory, visual, and auditory/vestibular systems. |
