Sensory hair cells in the mammalian cochlea convert mechanical stimuli into electrical impulses that subserve audition1,2. Loss of hair cells and their innervating neurons is the most frequent cause of hearing impairment3. Atonal homolog 1 (Atoh1, also known as Math1) is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor required for hair cell development4-6 and its misexpression in vitro7,8 and in vivo9,10 generates hair-cell-like cells. Atoh1-based gene therapy to ameliorate auditory10 and vestibular11 dysfunction has been proposed. However, the biophysical properties of putative hair cells induced by Atoh1 misexpression have not been characterized. Here we show that in utero gene transfer of Atoh1 produces functional supernumerary hair cells in the mouse cochlea. The induced hair cells display stereociliary bundles, attract neuronal processes, and express the ribbon synapse marker C-terminal binding protein 2 (Ctbp2)12,13. Moreover, the hair cells are capable of mechanoelectrical transduction1,2 and display basolateral conductances with age-appropriate specializations. Our results demonstrate that manipulation of cell fate by transcription factor misexpression produces functional sensory cells in the postnatal mammalian cochlea. We anticipate that our in utero gene transfer paradigm will enable the design and validation of gene therapies to ameliorate hearing loss in mouse models of human deafness14,15.

There is ongoing concern regarding the toxicity of nanoparticles with sizes less than 100 nm as compared to larger particles of the same nominal substance. Two commercial ZnO types, one sold as a 8-10 nm powder and the other described as -325 mesh (<44 mum) powder, were evaluated in human colon-derived RKO cells. The powders had a volume-to-surface area ratio equivalent to 40 and 330 nm spheres, respectively. Both materials formed micrometer-sized agglomerates in cell culture media. The nanosized ZnO was more cytotoxic than the micrometer-sized ZnO with LC(50) values of 15 +/- 1 and 29 +/- 4 mug/cm(2), respectively. Transfer of Zn from the solid phase to the cell culture media in the presence of RKO cells was time- and concentration-dependent. However, direct particle-cell contact was required for RKO cell cytotoxicity, and the toxicity of particles was independent of the amount of soluble Zn in the cell culture media. The mechanism of cell death includes the disruption of mitochondrial function. Robust markers of apoptosis, Annexin V staining, loss of mitochondrial potential, and increased generation of superoxide were observed when cells were treated with ZnO particulate matter but not when treated with comparable concentration of a soluble Zn salt. Both ZnO samples induced similar mechanisms of toxicity, but there was a statistically significant increase in potency per unit mass with the smaller particles.