Will KCNQ4 mutation in vestibular hair cell affect the vestibular equilibrium system?

2009 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19791188
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Otorhinolaryngology
• Research Institution: Akita University
• Principal Investigator: OMI Eigo Akita University, 大学院・医学系研究科, 助教 (50375242)
• Project Period (FY): 2007 – 2009
• Keywords: 生理学 / 神経科学 / 生体分子

Research Abstract

Collaboration with foreign researcher has been proposed to create KCNQ4 knock-out mouse in order to start the microbiological and immunohistochemical experiments initially. However, the proposal was refused. Knock-out mouse of alpha-1D calcium channel which plays an important role in activation of signal transduction of vestibular hair cell, was then carried out. Unfortunately, good yield could not be obtained as planned. Therefore, without any delayed, an alternative project was shifted to focus on the change in numbers and physiology of vestibular hair cell due to ageing by using SAM-P1 and Wister mice in different age (older and young group respectively). So far, physiologically, the gkL channel showed no different in between 2 control young groups (P7~P14). Our next step is by using the physiological fact of these control groups will be compared with the old groups 24-month~36-month -old) and this project is still in progress.