The mammalian inner ear possesses functional and morphological innovations that contribute to its unique hearing capacities. The genetic bases underlying the evolution of this mammalian landmark are poorly understood. We ...

Bony labyrinth morphology and tympanic air spaces provide powerful proxies for ecological adaptations in vertebrates. The labyrinth is responsible for the sense of hearing, and balance and equilibrium. Semicircular canal ...

K+ channels in the inner ear regulate the secretion and homeostasis of K+, i.e. the flux of K+ ions required to ensure good mechanosensory transduction. We studied the expression and cellular localization of TWIK-1 and ...

In humans, the absence or irreversible loss of hair cells, the sensory mechanoreceptors in the cochlea, accounts for a large majority of acquired and congenital hearing disorders. In the auditory and vestibular neuroepithelia ...

The diversification of anatomical structures with functional importance during the branching process of a clade is a widely studied phenomenon in evolutionary biology. In recent years, there is a growing interest in the ...

Cochlear implant surgery is a successful procedure for auditory rehabilitation of patients with severe to profound hearing loss. However, cochlear implantation may lead to damage to the inner ear, which decreases residual ...