Retinoic Acid Stimulates Regeneration of Mammalian Auditory Hair Cells

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 260; no. 5108; pp. 692 - 695
• Main Authors: Lefebvre, Philippe P., Malgrange, Brigitte, Staecker, Hinrich, Moonen, Gustave, Van De Water, Thomas R.
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for the Advancement of Science 30.04.1993; American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Animals; Biochemistry, biophysics & molecular biology; Biochimie, biophysique & biologie moléculaire; Biological and medical sciences; Care and treatment; cochlea; Cochlear duct; Cultured cells; Cytarabine - pharmacology; Dose response relationship; Ent. Stomatology; Hair cells; Hair Cells, Auditory - drug effects; Hair Cells, Auditory - physiology; Hair Cells, Auditory - ultrastructure; Hair follicles; Hearing loss; Human health sciences; Human physiology; Inner ear; Life sciences; Mammals; Medical sciences; Microscopy, Electron; Neomycin - toxicity; Organ Culture Techniques; Organ of corti; Organ of Corti - drug effects; Organ of Corti - physiology; Organ of Corti - ultrastructure; Oto-rhino-laryngologie; Otolaryngology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Rats; regeneration; Regeneration - drug effects; Sciences de la santé humaine; Sciences du vivant; Stereocilia; Tretinoin; Tretinoin - pharmacology; Cell proliferation; Regeneration; Ciliated cell; Sensory neuron; In vitro; Retinoic acid
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.8480180

Sensorineural hearing loss resulting from the loss of auditory hair cells is thought to be irreversible in mammals. This study provides evidence that retinoic acid can stimulate the regeneration in vitro of mammalian auditory hair cells in ototoxic-poisoned organ of Corti explants in the rat. In contrast, treatment with retinoic acid does not stimulate the formation of extra hair cells in control cultures of Corti's organ. Retinoic acid-stimulated hair cell regeneration can be blocked by cytosine arabinoside, which suggests that a period of mitosis is required for the regeneration of auditory hair cells in this system. These results provide hope for a recovery of hearing function in mammals after auditory hair cell damage.