Taking advantage of the availability of inbred mice that do not incur hearing loss after exposure to very loud noise, the long-term goal of our research is to understand the cellular mechanisms that underlie such resistance. Thus, we study the biochemical pathways contributing to high resistance to noise-induced hearing loss. The knowledge gained will provide a rational basis for the design of therapies to prevent or alleviate deafness, utilizing a thorough understanding of “natural” protection in the cochlea.

Other projects investigate the biochemical principles relevant to Acetylcholine’s inhibitory effect on auditory hair cells. The outer hair cells of the mammalian cochlea receive feedback from the brainstem through cholinergic neurons. The resulting modulation of the outer hair cells’ excitability contributes to the exquisite sensitivity of the mammalian auditory system. Our interest is to understand in detail the molecular mechanisms and the protein-protein interactions that result in functional association and modulation of the properties of the postsynaptic ion channels involved.

Publications:

Tuteja D, Xu D, Timofeyev V, Lu L, Sharma D, Zhang Z, Xu Y, Nie L, Vázquez AE, Young JN, Glatter KA, and Chiamvimonvat N (2005). Differential expression of small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels SK1, SK2, and SK3 in mouse atrial and ventricular myocytes. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 289:H2714-2723.

Nie, LP, Song H, Chen MF, Chiamvimonvat N, Beisel K, Yamoah EN, Vázquez AE (2004): Cloning And Expression of A Small Conductance Ca2+-Activated K+ Channel From The Mouse Cochlea: Coexpression with Acetylcholine a9/a10 Receptors. J Neurophys. 91:1536-1544.

Vázquez AE, Jimenez AM, Martin GK, Luebke AE, Lonsbury-Martin BL (2004). Evaluating CochlearFunction And The Effects Of Noise Exposure In The B6.CAST+Ahl Mouse With Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions. Hear Res 194:87-96.

Dou H, Vázquez AE, Namkung Y, Chu H, Cardell EL, Liping N, Parson S, Shin H, and Yamoah EN (2004) Null Mutation of a1D Ca2+ Channel Gene Results in Deafness but no Vestibular Defect in Mice. JARO 5:215-226.