Traditionally viewed as supporting actors, cells known as glia may be essential for the normal development of nerve cells responsible for hearing and balance, according to new University of Utah research. The study is reported in the January 6, 2005 issue of
Neuron and is co-authored by scientists at the University of Washington.
© Tatjana Piotrowski/University of Utah School of MedicineZebrafish Neuromasts: A) The posterior lateral line placode in a 35 h old live larva stained with Bodipy. The placode drops off neuromast precursors as it migrates posteriorly on the trunk. B) Differentiated neuromast with hair bundles in a 4 d old larva. C) 5 d old live larva in which the neuromasts are stained with the fluorescent dye Daspei.
"Using zebrafish as a model, we've demonstrated that glial cells play a previously unidentified role in regulating the development of sensory hair cell precursors -- the specialized neurons found in the inner ear of humans that make hearing possible. This research increases our understanding of how nerve cells develop and whether it may be possible to regenerate these types of cells in humans one day," said Tatjana Piotrowski, Ph.D., assistant professor of neurobiology and anatomy at the University of Utah School of Medicine.
Scientists long have known that glial cells, or simply glia, are essential for healthy nerve cells. However, in the last 10 years scientists have learned that glia aren't just "glue" holding nerve cells together. Glia communicate with each other and even influence synapse formation between neurons.