Gene expression during synaptic regeneration between cochlear hair cells and neurons

Significant changes in the expression of synaptic and inflammatory genes were observed early after damage, during regeneration of the fibers and synapses, and after completion of in vitro regeneration between afferent neurons and cochlear hair cells. Explants of the cochlea from early postnatal mice were exposed to kainate to induce glutamate toxicity. The organ of Corti (OC), housing the hair cells, and spiral ganglion (SG), containing the afferent neurons, were separated by dissection and mRNA analyzed by Illumina hybridization.