Ca2+ channel complexes in the cochlea synaptopathy (A08)

• Subject Area: Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells
• Term: from 2011 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 157660137

Moderate noise causes irreversible loss of specific afferent fibers and presynaptic ribbons at inner hair cells (cochlear synaptopathy). Because α2δ2 and brevican are expressed at the inner hair cell synapse and have been shown to prevent nerve regeneration in the adult CNS, we will investigate the role of both proteins in cochlear synaptopathy using brevican ko mice, cochlea-specific α2δ2 ko mice and WT mice treated with the α2δ2 blocker pregabalin. We will further analyze the inner hair cell phenotype and hearing of mice with a gain-of-function mutation in Cav1.3 (V101L). Finally, we will study the impact of impaired IHC synaptic transmission on central auditory processing and auditory-evoked behavior in Cav1.3 (V101L) mice and mice lacking synaptic ribbons.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 894: Ca2+-Signalling: Molecular Mechanisms and Integrative Functions
• Applicant Institution: Universität des Saarlandes
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Jutta Engel