Alteration in expression of p27 in auditory epithelia and neurons of mice during degeneration.

The aim of this study was to examine roles of p27, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, in cochleae of adult mice. Expression of p27 was found in cochlear supporting cells and spiral ganglion neurons of normal mice. Cisplatin treatment caused progressive degeneration of cochlear supporting cells and spiral ganglion neurons, and numbers of p27-positive cells in these cells decreased. This indicates a close relationship between p27 and cell death in cochleae. However, the relationships between decrease in number of p27-positive cells and that of survival cells differed according to type of cell. For Deiters' cells, there was apparent decrease in number of p27-positive cells, although no decrease in cell numbers. The present findings indicate that p27 plays roles in degeneration of cochleae according to cell type.