Using an AAV1-GFP construct, there appeared to be labeling of a variety of cell types within the cochlea, including the inner hair cells and supporting cells using an anti-GFP antibody (Figure 1A), in a pattern similarly described by other investigators (Jero et al., 2001 and Konishi et al., 2008). Subsequently, virus containing the VGLUT3 gene (AAV1-VGLUT3)

check details was microinjected into the cochlea using two different techniques: initially via an apical cochleostomy (CO) and subsequently by direct injection through the round window membrane (RWM) (Figures 1B–1E). After delivery, RT-PCR of inner ear tissue (Figure 1C) demonstrated strong VGLUT3 mRNA expression in the rescued whole cochlea, organ of Corti, stria vascularis, vestibular neuroepithelium, and very weakly in the spiral ganglion. Noninjected cochleas of knockouts do not demonstrate VGLUT3 expression as noted (Figure 1C, KO −/+RT). In contrast, under immunofluorescence, inner hair cells were

the only cells labeled with anti-VGLUT3 antibody (Figure 1B). To determine the dose dependence of VGLUT3 expression in the IHCs, we injected either 0.6 μl or 1 μl of AAV1-VGLUT3 (2.3 × 1013 virus genomes [vg]/ml) into the cochlea (Figures 1D and 1E). Microinjecting 1 μl of virus resulted BMS 354825 in 100% of IHCs labeled with anti-VGLUT3 antibody; in contrast, microinjecting 0.6 μl resulted in only ∼40% of IHCs labeled by the antibody. We next sought to determine whether earlier viral delivery would result in more robust VGLUT3 expression (Figures 1D, 1E, and 2). As shown, delivery of virus via the RWM at postnatal day 10 (P10) results in ∼40% of the IHCs expressing VGLUT3 (Figures 1D, 1E, and 2), whereas similar doses (0.6 μl) of virus injected at P1–P3 results in 100% of IHC transfected in all Oxalosuccinic acid animals (Figures 1D,

1E, and 2). After verifying successful transgene expression within the IHC without significant organ of Corti injury, we next sought to determine whether the reintroduction of VGLUT3 would lead to measureable hearing recovery (Figure 3). In these studies, only 0.6 μl of AAV1-VGLUT3 was delivered at P10–P12. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds were first measurable within 7 days after viral delivery, with near normalization of thresholds to wild-type (WT) levels within 2 weeks (P24–P26) (Figures 3A–3C). Initially a CO technique was used for viral delivery. However, this method restored hearing in only ∼17% of animals (n = 5 out of 30 animals attempted), presumably because it was more technically challenging and due to the trauma of the approach (see Discussion). As a result, the method was subsequently changed to an RWM delivery, which resulted in hearing restoration in 100% of mice (n = 19 out of 19 mice). The time course of hearing recovery was similar for the CO (when successful in 17%) and the RWM delivery techniques (100% of mice). Compound action potentials (CAPs) were also restored within 7–14 days of viral delivery (Figure 3A).