The Effects of Cabin1 in Auditory and Vestibular Function of Zebrafish

Mentor 1

Ava Udvadia

Location

Union Wisconsin Room

Start Date

5-4-2019 1:30 PM

End Date

5-4-2019 3:30 PM

Description

The auditory and vestibular systems mediate hearing and balance and are critical for an organism’s survival. Previous work in our lab suggested that reduced expression of the Cabin1 protein leads to diminished auditory and vestibular function in developing zebrafish. Cabin1, a gene encoding a calcineurin binding protein, is upregulated in neural and neural crest-derived tissues during development. In this study, we test the hypothesis that the Cabin1 gene is necessary for proper auditory and vestibular development. Four behavioral assays will be performed on zebrafish strains possessing targeted gene knockout mutations in the Cabin1 gene. Application of light otic vesicle pressure, or ear touch, elicits an auditory escape response. Head and tail touches also elicit escape responses, allowing use to distinguish specific deficits in auditory response from more general deficits in the motor activity of Cabin1 mutant fish. Additionally, vestibular function will be assessed by comparing the resting posture between wildtype and Cabin1 mutant zebrafish. Based on our preliminary findings, we expect that Cabin1 mutants will have diminished ear touch responsiveness, but not to head or tail touch, along with a reduced ability to maintain an upright posture, indicating developmental deficits in the auditory and vestibular systems.

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Apr 5th, 1:30 PM Apr 5th, 3:30 PM

The Effects of Cabin1 in Auditory and Vestibular Function of Zebrafish

Union Wisconsin Room

The auditory and vestibular systems mediate hearing and balance and are critical for an organism’s survival. Previous work in our lab suggested that reduced expression of the Cabin1 protein leads to diminished auditory and vestibular function in developing zebrafish. Cabin1, a gene encoding a calcineurin binding protein, is upregulated in neural and neural crest-derived tissues during development. In this study, we test the hypothesis that the Cabin1 gene is necessary for proper auditory and vestibular development. Four behavioral assays will be performed on zebrafish strains possessing targeted gene knockout mutations in the Cabin1 gene. Application of light otic vesicle pressure, or ear touch, elicits an auditory escape response. Head and tail touches also elicit escape responses, allowing use to distinguish specific deficits in auditory response from more general deficits in the motor activity of Cabin1 mutant fish. Additionally, vestibular function will be assessed by comparing the resting posture between wildtype and Cabin1 mutant zebrafish. Based on our preliminary findings, we expect that Cabin1 mutants will have diminished ear touch responsiveness, but not to head or tail touch, along with a reduced ability to maintain an upright posture, indicating developmental deficits in the auditory and vestibular systems.