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The Journal of Neuroscience, March 23, 2005, 25(12):3041-3045; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5277-04.2005

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BRIEF COMMUNICATION
Requirement of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Subunit 2 in the Maintenance of Spiral Ganglion Neurons during Aging

Jianxin Bao,¹ Debin Lei,¹ Yafei Du,¹ Kevin K. Ohlemiller,¹ Arthur L. Beaudet,² and Lorna W. Role³

¹Department of Otolaryngology, Center for Aging, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, ²Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, and ³Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032

Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is a major health concern for the elderly. Loss of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs), the primary sensory relay of the auditory system, is associated consistently with presbycusis. The causative molecular events responsible for age-related loss of SGNs are unknown. Recent reports directly link age-related neuronal loss in cerebral cortex with the loss of high-affinity nicotine acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). In cochlea, cholinergic synapses are made by olivocochlear efferent fibers on the outer hair cells that express 9 nAChR subunits and on the peripheral projections of SGNs that express 2, 4-7, and 2-3 nAChR subunits. A significantly decreased expression of the 2 nAChR subunit in SGNs was found specifically in mice susceptible to presbycusis. Furthermore, mice lacking the 2 nAChR subunit (2-/-), but not mice lacking the 5 nAChR subunit (5-/-), have dramatic hearing loss and significant reduction in the number of SGNs. Our findings clearly established a requirement for 2 nAChR subunit in the maintenance of SGNs during aging.

Key words: presbycusis; aging; hearing loss; nicotinic receptors; spiral ganglion neurons; neurodegeneration

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Received Dec 27, 2004; accepted January 25, 2005.

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