A mouse model of miR-96, miR-182 and miR-183 misexpression implicates miRNAs in cochlear cell fate and homeostasis

Transgenic FVB/NCrl-Tg(GFAP-Mir183,Mir96,Mir182)MDW1 mice (Tg1MDW) overexpress this neurosensory-specific miRNA cluster in the inner ear and were developed as a model system to identify target genes and biologic processes regulated by the miR-183 cluster. Affymetrix mRNA microarray data analysis revealed that downregulated genes in P5 Tg1MDW/1MDW cochlea are statistically enriched for evolutionarily conserved predicted miR-96, miR-182 or miR-183 target sites. Inner ear tissue total RNA extraction and cRNA hybridization to Affymetrix microarrays. At postnatal age P5, ears microdissected to obtain the coclear sensory epithelium (organ or Corti, or OC). At P18, ears were microdissected to obtain total cochlear tissue minus the vestibular labyrinth.