Molecular differences between young and mature stria vascularis from organotypic explants and transcriptomics.

The stria vascularis (SV) is an essential component of the inner ear that regulates the ionic environment required for hearing. SV degeneration disrupts cochlear homeostasis, leading to irreversible hearing loss, yet a comprehensive understanding of the SV, and consequently therapeutic availability for SV degeneration, is lacking. We developed a whole-tissue explant model from neonatal and mature mice to create a platform for advancing SV research. We validated our model by demonstrating that the proliferative behavior of the SV in vitro mimics SV in vivo. We also provided evidence for pharmacological experimentation by investigating the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in SV proliferation. Finally, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing from in vivo neonatal and mature mouse SV and surrounding tissue and revealed key genes and pathways that may play a role in SV proliferation and maintenance. Together, our results contribute new insights into investigating biological solutions for SV-associated hearing loss.