The sensory cells that transduce the signals for hearing and balance are highly specialized mechanoreceptors called hair cells that together with supporting cells comprise the sensory epithelia of the inner ear. Loss of hair cells from toxin exposure and age can cause balance disorders and is essentially irreversible due to the inability of mammalian vestibular organs to regenerate physiologically active hair cells. Here, we show substantial regeneration of hair cells in a mouse model of vestibular damage by treatment with a combination of glycogen synthase kinase 3β and histone deacetylase inhibitors. The drugs stimulated supporting cell proliferation and differentiation into hair cells. The new hair cells were reinnervated by vestibular afferent neurons, rescuing otolith function by restoring head translation–evoked otolith afferent responses and vestibuloocular reflexes. Drugs that regenerate hair cells thus represent a potential therapeutic approach to the treatment of balance disorders.

中文翻译：

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感觉毛细胞的药理再生恢复传入神经支配和前庭功能


传递听觉和平衡信号的感觉细胞是高度专业化的机械感受器，称为毛细胞，它与支持细胞一起构成了内耳的感觉上皮细胞。因接触毒素和年龄增长而造成的毛细胞损失会导致平衡障碍，并且由于哺乳动物前庭器官无法再生生理活跃的毛细胞，因此基本上是不可逆的。在这里，我们展示了通过糖原合成酶激酶 3β 和组蛋白脱乙酰酶抑制剂的组合治疗前庭损伤小鼠模型中毛细胞的大量再生。这些药物刺激支持细胞增殖和分化为毛细胞。新的毛细胞由前庭传入神经元再神经支配，通过恢复头部平移诱发的耳石传入反应和前庭眼反射来挽救耳石功能。因此，再生毛细胞的药物代表了治疗平衡障碍的潜在治疗方法。