Inwardly rectifying K+ (Kir) channels allow K+ to move more easily into rather than out of the
cell. They have diverse physiological functions depending on their type and their location …

Permanent hearing loss affects more than 5% of the world's population, yet there are no
nondevice therapies that can protect or restore hearing. Delivery of therapeutics to the …

Progressive functional deterioration in the cochlea is associated with age-related hearing
loss (ARHL). However, the cellular and molecular basis underlying cochlear aging remains …

Sound pressure fluctuations striking the ear are conveyed to the cochlea, where they vibrate
the basilar membrane on which sit hair cells, the mechanoreceptors of the inner ear …

The exquisite sensitivity of the cochlea, which mediates the transduction of sound waves into
nerve impulses, depends on the endocochlear potential and requires a highly specialized …

Functional molecular characterization of the cochlea has mainly been driven by the
deciphering of the genetic architecture of sensorineural deafness. As a result, the search for …

Pendred syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder that is classically defined by the
combination of sensorineural deafness/hearing impairment, goiter, and an abnormal …

Mutations of coding regions and splice sites of SLC26A4 cause Pendred syndrome and
nonsyndromic recessive hearing loss DFNB4. SLC26A4 encodes pendrin, a …

The stria vascularis (SV) generates the endocochlear potential (EP) in the inner ear and is
necessary for proper hair cell mechanotransduction and hearing. While channels belonging …

Sensory transduction in the cochlea and vestibular labyrinth depends on fluid movements
that deflect the hair bundles of mechanosensitive hair cells. Mechanosensitive transducer …