EXPRESSION OF GROWTH-FACTORS AND THEIR RECEPTORS IN THE POSTNATAL RATCOCHLEA

RT-PCR was used to assay for growth factors and receptors from seven d ifferent protein families in cochlea tissues of the juvenile rat. Ther e was a broad representation of the growth factor families in all the cochlea tissues examined, though the organ of Corti and stria vascular is expressed a greater variety than the spiral ganglion. This broad ex pression suggests that a variety of known growth factors play signific ant roles in the development, maintenance, and repair of the inner ear . The results of this survey serve as a basis for the design of future in vitro experiments that will address the ability of growth factors to protect hair cells from damage and to evoke a repair-regeneration r esponse by injured hair cells.