How does the ear grow?
In my lab, we aren't interested in how the outer ear grows (my ears for example, are already big enough), rather, we study the inner ear, the tiny, pea-sized organ  located deep within the skull that regulates hearing and balance. Early in embryonic development, the inner ear is a simple, round structure. However, by birth, this same organ becomes a very complex, twisted organ. The hearing portion (the cochlea) is a coiled, snail-shaped structure.

The balance portion (the vestibular apparatus) is a series of looped canals. One of the things we are interested in is how this simple, ball-shaped structure changes its shape to become the complex adult inner ear. We are also interested in how the nerve cells contact their appropriate cells. This is an important question for all developmental neurobiologists. The ear is an interesting system in which to investigate this question because it has a very precise "tonotopic"organization. This means that sounds of different pitches are coded at specific points in both the ear and brain.  By using a variety of techniques including cell culture, molecular biology, gene mutations and immunohistochemistry, we identify the molecules present in the inner ear and try to determine their function.  Scientists hope that by understanding the normal function of the molecules in the inner ear, these same molecules may one day be used to prevent or treat hearing loss in humans.

Current Research
One of the current projects in the lab focuses on the role of Eph molecules in guiding nerve fibers. Several students have been involved in this project in recent years. Neil Gray ('01) completed his honors thesis on this project and his work has recently been published. Another project focuses on how sensory hair cells and supporting cells develop in such specific patterns. Several students have worked on this project as well, including Abby Person ('00), Ellen Penney, ('01), Ian White ('05) and Daniel Huri ('03). In addition, our lab collaborates with Dr. Kate Barald at the University of Michigan, Ann Harbor on a project to identify growth factors that promote growth on inner ear nerve fibers. Ayo-Lynn Richards ('03) has been working at both the University of Michigan and at Oberlin on this project.

Recent publications (* Oberlin College Student)
Haung, EJ, Liu, W, Fritzsch, B, Bianchi, LM, Reichardt, LF and Xiang, M (2001) Brn-3a is a transcriptional regulator of soma size, target field innervation and axon pathfinding of inner ear sensory neurons. Development, 128, 2421-2432.

Bianchi, LM; *Person, AL; *Penney, EB (2002). Embryonic inner ear Cells reaggregate into specific patterns in vitro. JARO, 3, 418-429.

Bianchi,, LM, *Dinsio, K, *Davoli, K and Gale, NW (2002). LacZ histochemistry and immunochemistry reveal ephrin-B ligand expression in the inner ear. J Histochem Cytochem. 50, 1641-1645

Bianchi, LM and *Gray, NG. (2002). Developing statoacoustic ganglion nerve fibers express ephrin-B1 and are inhibited by EphB receptors Eur J Neurosci . 16,1499-1506.

Bianchi, L.M. (2004) Embryonic Stem cells: What are they and why do scientists use them? ARO Short Course Supplement, 3-7.

Bianchi, L.M. and Raz, Y. (2004) Methods for Providing Therapeutic Agents to Treat Damaged Spiral Ganglion Neurons Current Drug Targets: CNS and Neurological Disorders. 3, 195-199.

Bianchi, LM, *Daruwalla, Z, Roth, T.M., Attia, N., Lukacs, N.W., *Richards, A-L , Roth, TM, Lukacs, NW, *White, IO, Allen, SJ and Barald, KF (2004) Immortalized Mouse Inner Ear Cell Lines Reveal a Role for Chemokines in Promoting the Growth of Developing Statoacoustic Ganglion Neurons, JARO (In press).

Bianchi, LM, *Huri, D., *White, I.O. Embryonic inner ear cells use migratory mechanisms to establish cell patterns in vitro. (Submitted).

Funding
NIH/NIDCD "In Vitro Analysis of Embryonic Inner Ear Cells", 7/02-6/04

Oberlin College/Univeristy of Michigan Collaborative Grant, 7/02-1/03

NSF "Role of Eph Molecules in Cochlear and Vestibular Neurite Outgrowth", 8/15/99-7/31/03

NIH/NIDCD "Molecular Control of Patterning in Inner Ear Development", (KF Barald, University of Michigan, Principal Investigator).

NSF MRI "Acquisition of a Confocal Microscope", 8/01-8/02

Deafness Research Foundation "Eph Molecules in the Developing Inner Ear", 1/1/99-8/31/00

Lynne.Bianchi@oberlin.edu
Office: Cox Administartion Building 101 
Phone: 440-775-8410