Another QTL underlying progressive hearing loss, progressive hearing loss 2 (Phl2), was mapped in the 101/H strain [13].
A significant proportion of those with congenital hearing loss have genetic etiologies underlying their hearing loss.
Although the majority of studies broadly qualify the hearing disorder as 'sensorineural hearing loss', some authors have proposed auditory neuropathy as the pathophysiological mechanism underlying the hearing impairment in DOA+ (Amati-Bonneau et al., 2005; Huang et al., 2009; Santarelli 2010).
Thus, whilst the plasticity we report here provides basic insight into adult plasticity and the mechanisms underlying spatial hearing, the implications of these findings may also help guide rehabilitation strategies for individuals whose hearing has been compromised.
To genetically map the loci underlying the hearing impairment in the ILS and ISS mice, we measured ABR thresholds in the 63 recombinant inbred strains derived from the ILS and ISS parental strains.
They are all important molecular mechanisms underlying the hearing process, which involve the hair cell capability to transduce the mechanical stimulus into electrical signal, as well as the endolymph production and maintenance.
These genes may represent additional recurrent candidates underlying the hearing loss in our set of probands.
Therefore, there must be other mechanism(s) underlying the hearing impairment.
The genetic diversity of loci and mutations underlying hereditary hearing loss is an active area of investigation.
