No longer falling on deaf ears: mechanisms of degeneration and regeneration of cochlear ribbon synapses

Hear Res. 2015 Nov:329:1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.heares.2015.04.008. Epub 2015 Apr 30.

Abstract

Cochlear ribbon synapses are required for the rapid and precise neural transmission of acoustic signals from inner hair cells to the spiral ganglion neurons. Emerging evidence suggests that damage to these synapses represents an important form of cochlear neuropathy that might be highly prevalent in sensorineural hearing loss. In this review, we discuss our current knowledge on how ribbon synapses are damaged by noise and during aging, as well as potential strategies to promote ribbon synapse regeneration for hearing restoration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cochlea / innervation*
  • Cochlea / physiology*
  • Deafness / physiopathology*
  • Glutamic Acid / physiology
  • Hair Cells, Auditory / physiology
  • Hearing / physiology
  • Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Nerve Degeneration / physiopathology
  • Nerve Regeneration / physiology
  • Presbycusis / physiopathology
  • Spiral Ganglion / physiology
  • Synapses / physiology
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology

Substances

  • Glutamic Acid