Kristin Hamre, Ph.D.

The Research

University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Evaluation of Stereocilia Morphology in Genotypically Math 1-null Cells in Chimeric Mice

The current time period represents an exciting one in the field of auditory functioning with the advent of stem cells and the identification of molecules that control the formation of hair cells (HCs) holding the promise of creating new HCs. One such molecule is the transcription factor Math1 that has been shown to be critical for HC generation. We have examined environmental interactions in the development of HCs and emphasize its importance in hair cell generation by showing that cells that lack Math1 can form hair cells given the correct context. However, it remains unclear whether or not these cells fully differentiate or become functional. This grant is designed to address this issue by examining the morphology of the region of the hair cell that responds to sound, the stereocilia. Analysis will determine whether this region expresses its characteristic markers in a normal manner and whether they are organized correctly. This experiment will provide useful information for further studying how the mutant HCs develop and mature in the chimeric inner ear. The use of these animals creates a system to gain further understanding of the factors that affect hair cell differentiation, knowledge essential in any corrective therapies.