A new mouse mutant of the Cdh23 gene with early-onset hearing loss facilitates evaluation of otoprotection drugs

We report a novel mutation (erlong, erl) of the cadherin 23 (Cdh23) gene in a mouse model for DFNB12 characterized by progressive hearing loss beginning from post-natal day 27 (P27). Genetic and sequencing analysis revealed a 208T>C transition causing an amino acid substitution (70S-P). Caspase expression was up-regulated in mutant inner ears. Hearing was preserved (up to 35-dB improvement) in pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK-treated mutants compared to untreated mutants (P < 0.05). Outer hair cell (OHC) loss in the cochleae of Z-VAD-FMK-treated mutants was significantly reduced compared to those of untreated mice. Thus, the erl mutation can lead to hearing loss through apoptosis. This is the first genetic mouse model of hearing loss shown to respond to otoprotective drug therapy. The short interval from initial hearing loss to deafness (P27-P90) makes this model ideal for screening and validating otoprotective drugs.