Sensory hair cells in the inner ear and vestibular system convert mechanical stimuli, sound, and motion into neural activity that is responsible for the sensations of hearing, motion, and head position. In mammals, the loss of hair cells from acoustic over-stimulation, ototoxic drugs and aging is irreversible, leading to a permanent loss of function. However, it is now clear that hair cells in other vertebrates are capable of regenerating and recovering partial or complete function. This book provides a comprehensive survey of what is currently known about the regeneration, repair, and protection of sensory hair cells and the subsequent recovery of function in the auditory and vestibular systems. The editors and authors provide graduate students, clinicians, and scientists in the biological basis of hair cells and with an understanding of the factors that contribute to their regeneration and repair.

Presents the latest discoveries of hair cell regeneration and the recognition that stem cells exist in many regions of the nervous system, including the inner ear Discusses the potential for helping people with hearing loss Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Inhalt
Overview: Regeneration and Repair.- Morphological Correlates of Regeneration and Repair in the Inner Ear.- Recovery of Function in the Avian Auditory System After Ototrauma.- Functional Recovery After Hair Cell Regeneration in Birds.- Hair Cell Regeneration: Mechanisms Guiding Cellular Proliferation and Differentiation.- Protection and Repair of Inner Ear Sensory Cells.- Gene Arrays, Cell Lines, Stem Cells, and Sensory Regeneration in Mammalian Ears.