Inner ear Cadherins’ knockdown by AAV-delivered shRNA

The mammalian hearing organ, the organ of Corti (OoC), and balance organ, the vestibule, are based on sensory epithelia that exhibit an alternating pattern of sensory hair cells and non-sensory supporting cells. The emergence of these alternating patterns during development are known to be regulated by cell adhesion molecules, including E-cadherin and N-cadherin. However, the mechanisms by which Cadherins regulate hair cell patterning is not well understood. To study the role Cadherins during inner ear development, we propose to perform live imaging of inner ear explants, while knocking down E-cadherin and N-cadherin. I will describe our efforts to develop a method to knock down E-cadherin and N-cadherin in mouse inner ear explants using AAV-delivered shRNA. This approach will allow us to determine, for the first time, how Cadherins affect the arrangement of hair cells and supporting in both the OoC and the vestibular systems.