# Transcriptomic comparison of avian auditory and vestibular sensory epithelia

## TL;DR

This study compares gene activity in bird hearing and balance cells, revealing differences and similarities in their development and regeneration.

## Contribution

The paper identifies unique gene expression patterns in avian auditory and vestibular hair cells and their regenerative states.

## Key findings

- Auditory and vestibular hair cells in chickens have distinct transcriptomic profiles.
- Regenerated auditory hair cells resemble utricle type II hair cells more than mature ones.
- Regenerated hair cells lack type I utricle hair cell gene expression after damage.

## Abstract

Our inner ears contain various hair cell subtypes with distinct cytomorphologies, innervation, and functions. Here, we computationally compared hair cell transcriptomes from the avian hearing organ, the basilar papilla, and the utricle, a vestibular organ, to explore how these subtypes differ in gene expression within a single species. We identified distinct gene expression patterns in auditory and vestibular hair cell subgroups. Next, we integrated existing transcriptomic datasets from regenerated nascent auditory hair cells and nascent utricle hair cells arising during natural turnover. We found that while nascent hair cells possess unique transcriptomic profiles, they are more similar to utricular type II hair cells than to their mature functional counterparts. Additionally, three weeks after aminoglycoside-induced hair cell loss in the utricle, the regenerated hair cells lacked type I hair cell gene expression properties. This study provides fundamental insights into avian hair cell diversity and offers a basis for cross-species comparative studies.

•Distinct transcriptomes of auditory and vestibular hair cells in chickens•Regenerated basilar papilla hair cells resemble type II utricle hair cells•Nascent utricle hair cells from turnover resemble regenerated basilar papilla hair cells•Evolutionary insight into type I and type II utricle hair cell identities

Distinct transcriptomes of auditory and vestibular hair cells in chickens

Regenerated basilar papilla hair cells resemble type II utricle hair cells

Nascent utricle hair cells from turnover resemble regenerated basilar papilla hair cells

Evolutionary insight into type I and type II utricle hair cell identities

Biotechnology; Molecular biology; Neuroscience