Highly time-resolved analysis of cochlear development with application of species differences in developmental time axis.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K19581
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 56:Surgery related to the biological and sensory functions and related fields
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: Hosoya Makoto 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 助教 (30645445)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-07-09 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: コモンマーモセット / 内耳 / 聴覚 / 蝸牛

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we aimed to elucidate the mechanism of inner ear cell diversity formation in the inner ear cochlea by observing developmental phenomena with a high "temporal resolution" using animals that require a long embryonic development period for developmental studies. By using common marmosets, which have a developmental period of 150 days, it was possible to study inner ear development with a higher temporal resolution than in the mouse. Combined with comprehensive gene expression analysis, we found numerous species differences in cochlear development between primates and rodents, suggesting the possibility of applying this research method to future inner ear research and to the development of future therapies.

Free Research Field

耳鼻咽喉科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究を通して、コモンマーモセット内耳における発生現象を解析することで、従来のマウスとは異なる複数の新しい知見が得られた。これは、内耳発生における生命現象を従来の齧歯類のみでの検討では見逃していたことを示唆している。霊長類モデル動物を用いることにより今後も新たな知見が得られる可能性を示している。今回の手法を用いて内耳の発生に関する知見が深まるとともに、今後は治療法開発などへの応用が期待される。