A Stem Cell-Based Replacement for the Inner Ear

A Stem Cell-Based Replacement for the Inner Ear

Birds, fish, and other non-mammalian vertebrates can regenerate inner ear hair cells throughout life via two mechanisms; the nonmitotic transdifferentiation of supporting cells, and the mitotic proliferation and differentiation of a subset of supporting cells. A possible third mechanism is that non-mammalian vertebrates may regenerate inner ear hair cells through the differentiation of resident stem cells, but it is still controversial whether stem cells in adult sensory epithelia are from a specialized reserve pool of distinct cell type or from a subtype of supporting cells.