A choreography of intracellular Ca2+ and extracellular ATP to refine auditory nociceptors before hearing

Our hearing ability is exquisite in terms of sensitivity, dynamic range, and frequency discrimination. However, this acuity comes at the price of high vulnerability to a range of adverse influences—including sustained loud sounds. One may therefore expect that the ear is equipped with an alert system that can help prevent hearing damage, akin to the nociceptive sensory system that safeguards us from undergoing tissue injury. Here, Ceriani et al reveal a complex signaling interplay of sensory and non-sensory cells that helps setting up such a system in development.
Source: EMBO Journal - Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Tags: Development & Differentiation, Membrane & Intracellular Transport News [amp ] Views Source Type: research