title: The cochlear sensory epithelium derives from Wnt responsive cells in the dorsomedial otic cup.
abstract: Wnt1 and Wnt3a secreted from the dorsal neural tube were previously shown to regulate a gene expression program in the dorsal otic vesicle that is necessary for vestibular morphogenesis (Riccomagno et al., 2005. Genes Dev. 19, 1612-1623). Unexpectedly, Wnt1(-/-); Wnt3a(-/-) embryos also displayed a pronounced defect in the outgrowth of the ventrally derived cochlear duct. To determine how Wnt signaling in the dorsal otocyst contributes to cochlear development we performed a series of genetic fate mapping experiments using two independent Wnt responsive driver strains (TopCreER and Gbx2(CreER)) that when crossed to inducible responder lines (Rosa(lacZ) or Rosa(zsGreen)) permanently labeled dorsomedial otic progenitors and their derivatives. Tamoxifen time course experiments revealed that most vestibular structures showed some degree of labeling when recombination was induced between E7.75 and E12.5, consistent with continuous Wnt signaling activity in this tissue. Remarkably, a population of Wnt responsive cells in the dorsal otocyst was also found to contribute to the sensory epithelium of the cochlear duct, including auditory hair and support cells. Similar results were observed with both TopCreER and Gbx2(CreER) strains. The ventral displacement of Wnt responsive cells followed a spatiotemporal sequence that initiated in the anterior otic cup at, or immediately prior to, the 17-somite stage (E9) and then spread progressively to the posterior pole of the otic vesicle by the 25-somite stage (E9.5). These lineage-tracing experiments identify the earliest known origin of auditory sensory progenitors within a population of Wnt responsive cells in the dorsomedial otic cup.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 415 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 415 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Staci M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Rakowiecki
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, 400 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-6403, USA.
authors.forename: James Y H
authors.initials: JYH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 415 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Electronic address: epsteind@mail.med.upenn.edu.
authors.forename: Douglas J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Epstein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000235:genetics; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000235:genetics; D003051:Cochlea / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D004848:Epithelium / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D013629:Tamoxifen; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins
keywords: Cochlea; Fate map; Inner ear; Sensory progenitors; Wnt signaling