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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
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Real-time Bioluminescence Imaging of Notch Signaling Dynamics during Murine Neurogenesis
Published on: December 12, 2019
Multiple roles of Notch signaling in cochlear development
Shinji Takebayashi1, Norio Yamamoto, Daisuke Yabe
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoinkawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
Developmental Biology
|May 29, 2007
Summary
Notch signaling normally suppresses hair cell development in the cochlea. Reversibly inhibiting Notch signaling in vitro promotes hair cell formation and reveals its roles in cell fate and proliferation during auditory development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Oto-neurology
- Cell signaling
Background:
- Notch signaling is known to inhibit hair cell differentiation in the cochlea.
- The exact mechanisms are unclear due to challenges in controlling Notch signaling duration and timing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the precise roles of Notch signaling in mouse cochlear development.
- To explore the mechanisms by which Notch signaling regulates hair cell and supporting cell differentiation.
Main Methods:
- Developed a novel in vitro culture and analysis method for mouse fetal cochleae.
- Utilized reversible inhibition of Notch signaling via gamma-secretase and TNF-alpha-converting enzyme inhibitors.
Main Results:
- Inhibiting Notch signaling increased the number of cochlear hair cells, consistent with gene deletion studies.
- Demonstrated Notch signaling's role in regulating the dichotomy between hair cell and supporting cell differentiation from common progenitors.
- Showed Notch signaling arrests the cell cycle of cochlear progenitor cells.
- Confirmed Notch signaling is essential for Prox1-positive supporting cell induction and maintenance.
Conclusions:
- Reversible inhibition of Notch signaling in vitro provides insights into cochlear development.
- Notch signaling plays a critical role in cell fate determination, cell cycle regulation, and supporting cell development in the cochlea.
Related Concept Videos
03:14Notch Signaling Pathway
The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
03:14Notch Signaling Pathway
The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
01:12Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
Notch signaling was first discovered in Drosophila melanogaster, where it is involved in cell lineage differentiation. Notch signaling regulates the maintenance and differentiation of intestinal stem cells or ISCs by controlling the expression of atonal homolog 1 or Atoh1. Atoh1 directs cells to differentiate into secretory cells.
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
01:13The Cochlea
The cochlea is a coiled structure in the inner ear that contains hair cells—the sensory receptors of the auditory system. Sound waves are transmitted to the cochlea by small bones attached to the eardrum called the ossicles, which vibrate the oval window that leads to the inner ear. This causes fluid in the chambers of the cochlea to move, vibrating the basilar membrane.
02:33Hedgehog Signaling Pathway
The Hedgehog gene (Hh) was first discovered due to its control of the growth of disorganized, hair-like bristles phenotype in Drosophila, much like hedgehog spines. Hh plays a crucial role in the development of organs and the maintenance of homeostasis in both invertebrates and vertebrates. However, while Drosophila has only one Hh protein, mammals have multiple functional Hedgehog proteins - Sonic (Shh), Desert (Dhh), and Indian Hedgehog (Ihh). All of these homologous proteins have adapted to...
01:41Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways
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