| First Author | Maricich SM | Year | 2009 |
| Journal | J Neurosci | Volume | 29 |
| Issue | 36 | Pages | 11123-33 |
| PubMed ID | 19741118 | Mgi Jnum | J:152678 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:4359521 | Doi | 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2232-09.2009 |
| Citation | Maricich SM, et al. (2009) Atoh1-lineal neurons are required for hearing and for the survival of neurons in the spiral ganglion and brainstem accessory auditory nuclei. J Neurosci 29(36):11123-33 |
| abstractText | Atoh1 is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor necessary for the specification of inner ear hair cells and central auditory system neurons derived from the rhombic lip. We used the Cre-loxP system and two Cre-driver lines (Egr2(Cre) and Hoxb1(Cre)) to delete Atoh1 from different regions of the cochlear nucleus (CN) and accessory auditory nuclei (AAN). Adult Atoh1-conditional knock-out mice (Atoh1(CKO)) are behaviorally deaf, have diminished auditory brainstem evoked responses, and have disrupted CN and AAN morphology and connectivity. In addition, Egr2; Atoh1(CKO) mice lose spiral ganglion neurons in the cochlea and AAN neurons during the first 3 d of life, revealing a novel critical period in the development of these neurons. These new mouse models of predominantly central deafness illuminate the importance of the CN for support of a subset of peripheral and central auditory neurons. |
