Helge Rask-Andersen
Re-building inner ear hair cells and why crocodiles hear so well
The vulnerable human inner ear contains only 3 400 inner hair cells that show little sign of regeneration. This compares to the eye containing about 126 million photoreceptor cells to convert light into nerve signals. Reptiles and birds may effectively replace lost hair cells and crocodiles do not loose their hearing despite considerable age.
Can we learn from them what cellular mechanisms are involved to regenerate their sensory cells? I give a short background to human sensory loss and deafness in the light of recent progress such as cochlear implantation. It is our wish to learn more from several animal species including the crocodile that have evolved these unique properties to re-build their inner ear structures to continuously regain full function.
