Researchers Create Inner Ear Using Stem Cells

Featured Article Main Category: Ear, Nose and Throat Also Included In: Stem Cell Research Article Date: 12 Jul 2013 - 2:00 PDT

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Scientists have developed a way of using stem cells to create key structures of the inner ear in mice, publishing their findings in the journal Nature.

The Indiana University researchers found that by using a 3D cell-culture method, they were able to persuade stem cells to develop into inner ear sensory epithelium, which detects head movement, gravity and sound. The epithelium contains hair cells, supporting cells and neurons.

A 3D cell-culture method can more closely copy natural tissues and organs than cells grown two-dimensionally. In 3D cell culture, cells can attach to each other and form natural cell-to-cell attachments.

Karl R. Koeheler, one of the researchers in the study, explains:

"The three-dimensional culture allows the cells to self-organize into complex tissues using mechanical cues that are found during embryonic development."

"We were surprised to see that once stem cells are guided to become inner ear precursors and placed in 3D culture, these cells behave as if they knew not only how to become different cell types in the inner ear, but also how to self-organize into a pattern remarkably similar to the native inner ear."

He adds that their initial goal was to make inner ear precursors, cells from which other cells are formed, in the 3D culture method - but when they did testing, thousands of hair cells were found in the culture dish.

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Researchers Create Inner Ear Using Stem Cells