Function of Epiphycan in murine inner ear

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K16911
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Otorhinolaryngology
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Hanada Yukiko 大阪大学, 医学系研究科, 特任研究員 (70734044)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 内耳 / 聴覚 / 平衡覚

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We revealed that Epiphycan knockout mice exhibited an elevated hearing threshold above 16 kHz frequency. This study suggests that Epyc is necessary for normal auditory function. However, no obvious difference in morphology was observed between Epyc KO and WT cochleae.
Furthermore, we have revealed that FGF12 (Fibroblast growth factor 12) expression in vestibular and spiral ganglia, and FGF12 knockout mice exhibited increased auditory brainstem response thresholds and deficits in rotarod and balance beam performance tests.

Free Research Field

耳科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

Epiphycanが正常聴覚に必要な遺伝子であることを明らかにしたことで、難聴遺伝子の研究の一端として今後社会に役立つ可能性を考えている。また、同じcDNAライブラリから着目したFGF12のノックアウトマウスが平衡覚検査で異常所見を示していることから、めまい疾患のモデルマウスとして今後のめまい研究に役立つ可能性を考えている。