Experimental Studies of Inner Ear Hair Cell Regeneration

This study investigated hair cell regeneration in the avian basilar papilla and mammalian vestibular sensory epithelia. It was found that supporting cells were the origin of regenerated hair cells in birds, as indicated by BrdU labeling. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) was identified as a potential trigger for cell proliferation, while extrusion of hair cells was not. Apoptosis was observed in hair cells following noise exposure, suggesting it played a role in both damage and regeneration. In guinea pigs, hair cell regeneration was indicated in the vestibular epithelia 60 days after gentamicin damage, showing potential for regeneration in mammals.