Are you sure you want to leave this community? Leaving the community will revoke any permissions you have been granted in this community.
A recent study revealed that Slitrk6, a transmembrane protein containing a leucine-rich repeat domain, has a critical role in the development of the inner ear neural circuit. However, it is still unknown how the absence of Slitrk6 affects auditory and vestibular functions. In addition, the role of Slitrk6 in regions of the central nervous system, including the dorsal thalamus, has not been addressed. To understand the physiological role of Slitrk6, Slitrk6-knockout (KO) mice were subjected to systematic behavioral analyses including auditory and vestibular function tests. Compared to wild-type mice, the auditory brainstem response (ABR) of Slitrk6-KO mice indicated a mid-frequency range (8-16 kHz) hearing loss and reduction of the first ABR wave. The auditory startle response was also reduced. A vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) test showed decreased vertical (head movement-induced) VOR gains and normal horizontal VOR. In an open field test, locomotor activity was reduced; the tendency to be in the center region was increased, but only in the first 5 min of the test, indicating altered adaptive responses to a novel environment. Altered adaptive responses were also found in a hole-board test in which head-dip behavior was increased and advanced. Aside from these abnormalities, no clear abnormalities were noted in the mood, anxiety, learning, spatial memory, or fear memory-related behavioral tests. These results indicate that the Slitrk6-KO mouse can serve as a model of hereditary sensorineural deafness. Furthermore, the altered responses of Slitrk6-KO mice to the novel environment suggest a role of Slitrk6 in some cognitive functions.
Pubmed ID: 21298075
Publication data is provided by the National Library of Medicine ® and PubMed ®. Data is retrieved from PubMed ® on a weekly schedule. For terms and conditions see the National Library of Medicine Terms and Conditions.
Overview of the genetics of hereditary hearing impairment for researchers and clinicians. The site lists data and references for all known gene localizations and identifications for nonsyndromic hearing impairment, and several for syndromic hearing loss. For syndromic hearing impairment, only a few of the most frequent forms are covered. An atlas of cochlea with genes listed can be accessed from this site.
View all literature mentionsSeattle based independent, nonprofit medical research organization dedicated to accelerating the understanding of how human brain works. Provides free data and tools to researchers and educators and variety of unique online public resources for exploring the nervous system. Integrates gene expression data and neuroanatomy, along with data search and viewing tools, these resources are openly accessible via the Allen Brain Atlas data portal. Provides Allen Mouse Brain, Allen Spinal Cord Atlas, Allen Developing Mouse Brain Atlas, Allen Human Brain Atlas,Allen Mouse Brain Connectivity Atlas, Allen Cell Type Database, The Ivy Glioblastoma Atlas Project (Ivy GAP), The BrainSpan Atlas of the Developing Human Brain.
View all literature mentionsCommunity model organism database for laboratory mouse and authoritative source for phenotype and functional annotations of mouse genes. MGD includes complete catalog of mouse genes and genome features with integrated access to genetic, genomic and phenotypic information, all serving to further the use of the mouse as a model system for studying human biology and disease. MGD is a major component of the Mouse Genome Informatics.Contains standardized descriptions of mouse phenotypes, associations between mouse models and human genetic diseases, extensive integration of DNA and protein sequence data, normalized representation of genome and genome variant information. Data are obtained and integrated via manual curation of the biomedical literature, direct contributions from individual investigators and downloads from major informatics resource centers. MGD collaborates with the bioinformatics community on the development and use of biomedical ontologies such as the Gene Ontology (GO) and the Mammalian Phenotype (MP) Ontology.
View all literature mentionsConsortium to reduce delivery and targeting bottlenecks for developing novel innovative biopharmaceutical based medicines. The project aims to shed new light on the obstacles biopharmaceuticals (medicines based on biological molecules such as proteins, peptides or nucleic acids) need to overcome to get to where they are needed in the body. The team will then use this information to develop and validate biopharmaceutical formulations to deliver these novel drugs to their targets. By finding more effective ways of administering these biopharmaceutical drugs, and improving their ability to travel through the body to where they are needed, COMPACT will allow more patients to benefit from biopharmaceuticals. Furthermore, designing less invasive administration routes and reducing the dose (and therefore the side effects) and frequency of administration will help to improve patient compliance with treatments.
View all literature mentions