在幼年哺乳动物前庭上皮内表达外源性Math1能够产生大量的新生毛细胞，但在成年动物体内几乎没有该效应，干细胞数量的减少是造成这一现象的可能原因。诱导干细胞（iPSC）技术能够将已发育成熟的体细胞重新转变为具有分化能力的干细胞，该技术理论上可使成熟前庭上皮内的干细胞数量大量增加。本研究将联合应用iPSC技术和Math1表达技术，通过体外和体内实验，尝试实现成年哺乳动物前庭毛细胞的大量再生。具体研究内容如下：1，通过iPSC技术使成年小鼠椭圆囊上皮内的支持细胞向全能干细胞的方向转化，从而使其重新具有分化的潜能。2，通过椭圆囊上皮的微环境和过量表达math1基因，使重新具有分化能力的支持细胞发育为毛细胞；3，研究新生前庭毛细胞的形态和功能，有无神经支配，以及能否整合到前庭传入神经系统中。

Over expression of gene Math1 is the most efficient way to generate new vestibular hair cells. However, the inductive effect of Math1 only limits to a few days after birth. It seems that the supporting cell of vestibular epithelium lost the potential to redifferentiate in adult stage. As a technique that can transform differentiated cells into stem cells, the induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) technique provide some hope to solve the problem. In this study, we will use both the iPSC technique and the Math1 overexpression method to induce the generation of new vestibular hair cells in adult mouse both in vitro and in vivo. Our research contents include:1.Using the iPSC technique to transform the mature supporting cell in vestibular epithelium into stem cell to regain the differentiation ability.2, converting the redifferentiable supporting cell into new vestibular hair cell with the induction of gene Math1. 3, investigating the morphology, function and innervation of new generated vestibular hair cells and whether they could be integrated into the vestibular afferent nerve system.