PIEZO2 mediates ultrasonic hearing via cochlear outer hair cells in mice
Jie Li, Shuang Liu, Chenmeng Song, Qun Hu, Zhikai Zhao, Tuantuan Deng, Yi Wang, Tong Zhu, Linzhi Zou, Shufeng Wang, Jiaofeng Chen, Lian Liu, Hanqing Hou, Kexin Yuan, Hairong Zheng, Zhiyong Liu, Xiaowei Chen, Wenzhi Sun, Bailong Xiao, Wei Xiong
Abstract
Significance Some animals have evolved an adaptive ability for vocalizing and hearing ultrasonic frequencies that are inaudible to humans (>20 kHz). For decades, it has been postulated that animals hear ultrasonic frequencies with cochlear hair cells using an identical set of mechanotransduction molecules in the hair bundles for hearing audible frequencies. Here, we show that mice lacking mechanosensitive PIEZO2 ion channels have difficulty hearing at ultrasonic frequencies but remain remarkably sensitive to audible frequencies. Thus, animals may use a partially different mechanism for sensing ultrasonic sound emissions.