SURVIVAL OF INNER-EAR SENSORY NEURONS IN TRK MUTANT MICE

Analysis of trkB(-/-); trkC(-/-) double mutant mice revealed that peri pheral and central inner ear sensory neurons are affected in these mic e. However, a substantial amount of cochlear and vestibular neurons su rvive, possibly due to maintenance or upregulation of TrkA expression. To clarify the function of the TrkA receptor during development of th e cochlear and vestibular ganglion we analysed trkA(-/-) mice and the expression of this receptor in inner ear sensory neurons of trkB(-/-); trkC(-/-) animals. TrkA homozygous mutant mice showed normal numbers of neurons and no TrkA expression was detected in neurons of trkB(-/-) ; trkC(-/-) double mutant mice. We conclude that TrkA is not essential for inner ear development and that in the absence of any of the known catalytic Trk receptors peripheral inner ear sensory neurons are pron e to undergo cell death or must use a different signaling mechanism to survive. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.