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The cochlea is part of the inner ear and consists of a snail-shaped structure containing three fluid-filled cavities – one of which, the scala media cavity, contains the organ of corti. The cochlea transduces incoming soundwaves into specific patterns of neural output, which are conveyed to the parts of the auditory parts of the brain.
The cellular makeup of the primate cochlea, crucial for hearing, remains poorly understood. Here, authors show a detailed map of primate cochlear cells, revealing both conserved and species-specific features.
Mutations in GJB2 cause DFNB1, the most common hereditary deafness. ATAC-seq identification of gene regulatory elements enables targeted GJB2 delivery to cochlear cells, preventing hearing loss in mouse models.
Spontaneous activity in the developing auditory system is maintained by a homeostatic mechanism and is important for cochlear neuron subtype specification.
