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Targeted disruption of Otog results in deafness and severe imbalance

Nature Genetics volume 24, pages 139–143 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Genes specifically expressed in the inner ear are candidates to underlie hereditary nonsyndromic deafness1. The gene Otog has been isolated from a mouse subtractive cDNA cochlear library2. It encodes otogelin, an N-glycosylated protein that is present in the acellular membranes covering the six sensory epithelial patches of the inner ear: in the cochlea (the auditory sensory organ), the tectorial membrane (TM) over the organ of Corti; and in the vestibule (the balance sensory organ), the otoconial membranes over the utricular and saccular maculae as well as the cupulae over the cristae ampullares of the three semi-circular canals. These membranes are involved in the mechanotransduction process. Their movement, which is induced by sound in the cochlea or acceleration in the vestibule, results in the deflection of the stereocilia bundle at the apex of the sensory hair cells, which in turn opens the mechanotransduction channels located at the tip of the stereo-cilia3. We sought to elucidate the role of otogelin in the auditory and vestibular functions by generating mice with a targeted disruption of Otog. In Otog−/− mice, both the vestibular and the auditory functions were impaired. Histological analysis of these mutants demonstrated that in the vestibule, otogelin is required for the anchoring of the otoconial membranes and cupulae to the neuroepithelia. In the cochlea, ultrastructural analysis of the TM indicated that otogelin is involved in the organization of its fibrillar network. Otogelin is likely to have a role in the resistance of this membrane to sound stimulation. These results support OTOG as a possible candidate gene for a human nonsyndromic form of deafness.

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Figure 1: Targeted inactivation of Otog.
Figure 2: Comparative sections of the vestibule in Otog−/− (a,c,e,g) and Otog+/− (b,d,f,h) mice at P20 (a– f) and P70 (g,h).
Figure 3: Sections of cochlea of P70 Otog−/− mice.
Figure 4: Ultrastructural analysis of the TM in profoundly deaf Otog−/− (a,c,e) and wild-type ( b,d,f) mice at P90 (tannic acid treatment13).

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Acknowledgements

We thank G. Richardson for his contribution to the analysis of ultrastructural data; C. Elbaz for technical help in histological analysis; C. Koenen for care of the animals; S. Blot for help in ABR recording; R. Hellio for confocal microscopy; O. Ardouin, F. Bernex and U. Rogne for helpful advice; T. White, J.-P. Hardelin and D. Weil for critical reading of the manuscript; and J. Levilliers for constant help and support. This work was supported by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS; Action Concertée Biologie cellulaire, grant 96114) and by the European Community (grant QLG2-CT 1999-00988). M.-C.S. is CR at the CNRS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UMR 955 INRA de Génétique Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort Cédex, France

    Marie-Christine Simmler, Laurent Guillaud & Jean-Jacques Panthier

  2. Unité de Génétique des Déficits Sensoriels, CNRS URA1968, Institut Pasteur, Paris, Cédex 15, France

    Martine Cohen-Salmon, Aziz El-Amraoui & Christine Petit

  3. Unité de Génétique du Développement, CNRS URA1960, Institut Pasteur, Paris, Cédex 15, France

    Jean-Claude Benichou

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  1. Marie-Christine Simmler
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Correspondence to Marie-Christine Simmler or Christine Petit.

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Simmler, MC., Cohen-Salmon, M., El-Amraoui, A. et al. Targeted disruption of Otog results in deafness and severe imbalance . Nat Genet 24, 139–143 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/72793

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