Abstract
BACKGROUND: The impact of miRNA differential expression on the auditory epithelium stem cell development in postnatal rats is not clear. The present study was designed to analyze miRNA expression in the organ of Corti of neonatal and adult rats. METHODS: The cochleae of newborn (P0) and adult (P30) Sprague-Dawley rats were dissected in cold PBS to collect the sensory epithelia. Small RNAs were extracted using the mirVana RNA Isolation kit. Then, miRNA expression profiling was performed with RNAs from three newborns and three adult rats utilizing the TaqMan Array Rodent MicroRNA Panel. RESULTS: Eighteen miRNAs were found be differentially expressed, 16 were unregulated in mature cochleae with the fold changes ranging from 17 to 600 folds. The expression levels of two miRNAs were reduced in the mature rat cochleae. GO analysis and signaling pathway analysis revealed the potential involvement of the miRNAs in the regulation of Wnt and TGF-β signaling pathways in hair cell development. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provided novel insights into the functional significance of miRNAs in the basilar membrane cells development, and revealed the potential importance of miRNAs in the hair cell by regulation of Wnt and TGF-β signaling.