Evolutionary embryology of the physiological environment in which the hair cells responsible for hearing are located

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K15830
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 44040:Morphology and anatomical structure-related
• Research Institution: Kobe University (2022); Hiroshima University (2020-2021)
• Principal Investigator: Higuchi Shinnosuke 神戸大学, 附属学校部, 附属中等教育学校教諭 (20847131)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 有毛細胞 / 平衡感覚 / 膜迷路 / 感覚毛 / 進化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The inner ear, the sensory organ responsible for hearing and balance in vertebrates, consists of a complex labyrinth of membranes, including the cochlear duct and semicircular canals, filled with an extracellular fluid called endolymph that contains sensory hair cells. The endolymph has a specialized electrochemical composition and provides the physiological environment essential for the reception of mechanical stimuli by the hair cells. However, how the endolymph, which is essential for inner ear function, has been acquired and evolved throughout vertebrate history is not yet understood. In this study, we investigated the endolymph, which is essential for the function of the inner ear as a sensory organ, from an evolutionary developmental perspective.

Free Research Field

進化発生学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の遂行は、脊椎動物における聴覚器の進化の解明につながる。本研究の主要な対象である鳥類の内耳については、哺乳類のものにくらべて著しく研究の進展が遅い。本研究のように様々な動物での知見を比較することによって、我々ヒトをはじめ動物がどのように世界の有様を認知しているのかを深く探求することができる。また、ヒトの疾患研究のためにゼブラフィッシュやマウスにおいて聴平衡覚の疾患モデルが作製されており、本研究の成果を関連研究の推進に還元できる可能性がある。