We investigated whether co-expression of Neurog1 and Atoh1 in common neurosensory precursors could explain the loss of hair cells in Neurog1 null mice. Analysis of terminal mitosis, using BrdU, supports previous findings regarding timing of exit from cell cycle. Specifically, we show that cell cycle exit occurs in spiral sensory neurons in a base-to-apex progression followed by cell

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We review the in vivo evidence for afferent fiber guidance to the inner ear sensory epithelia and the central nuclei of termination. Specifically, we highlight our current molecular understanding for the role of hair cells and sensory epithelia in guiding afferents, how disruption of certain signals can alter fiber pathways, even in the presence of normal hair cells, and what role neurotrophins play in fiber guidance of sensory neurons to hair cells. The data suggest that the neurotrophin BDNF is the most important molecule known for inner ear afferent fiber guidance to hair cells in vivo. This suggestion is based on experiments on Ntf3 transgenic mice expressing BDNF under Ntf3 promoter that show deviations of fiber growth in the ear to areas that express BDNF but have no hair cells. However, fiber growth can occur in the absence of BDNF as demonstrated by double mutants for BDNF and Bax. We directly tested the significance of hair cells or sensory epithelia for fiber guidance in mutants that lose hair cells (Pou4f3) or do not form a posterior crista (Fgf10). While these data emphasize the role played by BDNF, normally released from hair cells, there is some limited capacity for directed growth even in the absence of hair cells, BDNF, or sensory epithelia. This directed growth may rely on semaphorins or other matrix proteins because targeted ablation of the sema3 docking site on the sema receptor Npn1 results in targeting errors of fibers even in the presence of hair cells and BDNF. Overall, our data support the notion that targeting of the afferent processes in the ear is molecularly distinct from targeting processes in the central nuclei. This conclusion is derived from data that show no recognizable central projection deviation, even if fibers are massively rerouted in the periphery, as in Ntf3 tgBDNF mice in which vestibular fibers project to the cochlea.

The β-galactosidase protein generated by the bacterial LacZ gene is widely used to map gene expression patterns. The ease of its use is only rivaled by green fluorescent protein, which can be used in combination with various other procedures such as immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry, or tract tracing. The β-galactosidase enzymatic reaction provides potentially a more sensitive assay of gene expression than green fluorescent protein. However, the virtual impermeability and tendency to absorb light over a wide range limit the use of the most frequently used β-galactosidase substrate, X-Gal, in combination with other fluorescent labeling procedures. Here, we provide details on a simple photoactivation procedure that transforms the light-absorbing XGal product, 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl (BCI) precipitate, into an intensely fluorescent product excited by 488 and 633 nm light. Photoactivation is achieved through exposure to 730 nm nearinfrared light emitted from a femtosecond titanium-doped Sapphire laser. Photoactivation of BCI occurs in tissue sections suspended in buffered saline, glycerol, or even embedded in epoxy resin. A protocol for the use of BCI photoactivation is here provided. Importantly, the BCI photoactivated product is photoswitchable, displaying bistable photochromism. This permits the use of the fluorescent product in a variety of co-localization studies in conjunction with other imaging modalities. As with other bistable and photoswitchable products, the BCI reaction product shows concentration quenching at high density and can be degraded by continuous exposure to intense 730 nm illumination. Therefore, care must be taken in developing imaging strategies. Our findings have implications for the use of X-Gal in gene and protein detection and provide a novel substrate for high density digital information storage.

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