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Gene Needed for Ear Cell Regeneration Researchers studied the regeneration of sensory cells in the inner ear of zebrafish larvae. They created a model of inner ear damage and tracked the origin of new hair cells, investigating the role of the dlx5a gene in their regeneration. The vestibular system, which includes hair cells in the inner ear, helps maintain balance by converting head movements into nerve signals. In the study published in Nature Communications on August 18, the authors introduced the antibiotic neomycin into the inner ear of five-day-old zebrafish larvae, resulting in a 60% reduction of hair cells in the semicircular canals. New cells began to appear within 12 hours, and the vestibulo-ocular reflex returned to control levels within 48 hours. The authors then tracked the origin of the new cells, labeling supporting cells, which are epithelial cells neighboring hair cells. Some labeled cells acquired hair cell characteristics without visible division, while others divided first. Another label showed that some restored hair cells originated from supporting cells that appeared after the injury, indicating that new hair cells arise through multiple pathways. To investigate changes in gene function during regeneration, the authors measured gene activity in individual inner ear cells at 6, 24, and 48 hours after damage. They found the most changes in gene activity at 24 hours, with the dlx5a gene, which encodes a protein regulating other genes, being highlighted in supporting cells. The authors used the CRISPR–Cas9 system to disable dlx5a in supporting cells, resulting in poorer hair cell regeneration after injury. 🔗 Read original →