Vetter Lab Research Description

Hair cells, the primary sensory cells of the inner ear, are responsible for transducing auditory and vestibular stimuli. In the case of the organ of Corti (the sensory end organ of the cochlea), pressure variations resulting from auditory stimulation are encoded as neural responses. The mammalian cochlear hair cells are the only primary sensory cells of that order that are under direct feedback control from the central nervous system. The research interests of the lab center on the molecular, morphological, and physiological aspects of this “efferent” system. In collaboration with Dr. Belen Elgoyhen’s lab in Buenos Aires and Dr. Jim Boulter’s lab in UCLA, we have previously cloned and characterized a number of novel cholinergic neurotransmitter receptor subunits expressed by hair cells (alpha9 and alpha10 subunits). We have also produced a series of knockout and overexpressor mice designed to facilitate our understanding of the role the efferent system plays in hearing, as well as the role of the cholinergic receptor subunits in hair cell physiology. Also, in collaboration with Dr. Sergei Grando’s group at UC Davis, we have investigated the role these nicotinic subunits play in cell-cell adhesion in skin, and are currently examining similar issues in the inner ear concerning regulation of adhesion by nicotinic receptors and how such regulation impacts synaptogenesis. 

We use a wide array of techniques in the lab in order to perform our investigations of the mammalian auditory system. We believe that examining research problems from a variety of different angles is one of the main strengths of the lab. Thus, we use classic molecular biology approaches for cloning and mutagenesis studies; transgenic approaches to produce mice with altered gene expression or protein structure (i.e. point mutations in animals); morphological approaches at both the light and electron microscopic levels for understanding the structural consequences to synaptic innervation of hair cells following our transgenic manipulations; biochemical approaches using classic techniques as well as the Ciphergen SELDI-TOF mass spectrometry (Biomarker discovery) proteomics system to examine regulation of protein expression following transgenic manipulations; and, in collaboration with M. Charles Liberman at the Eaton-Peabody Labs at Mass. Eye and Ear Infirmary, a systems level physiological approach designed to assess the functional consequences of transgenic manipulations. 

Many opportunities exist for the beginning graduate student and seasoned post-graduate researcher alike. For instance, very specialized investigations of peripheral auditory processing are possible. However, the investigation of basic neurobiological questions concerning, for instance, synapse formation and differentiation are also of interest to the lab.