在听觉发育过程中，耳蜗内毛细胞或发放自发动作电位，或受邻近Kolliker器支持细胞释放的ATP作用发放诱发动作电位，促进外周听器的成熟，但其调控机制不明确。申请人长期从事耳蜗中ATP的研究，首次报道血管纹缘细胞和K?lliker器支持细胞释放ATP的机制，Kolliker器支持细胞在体凋亡、离体增殖，率先发现P2X7嘌呤受体在毛细胞表皮板表达，IP3受体的表达与缝隙连接蛋白26(Cx26)关联，Cx43参与毛细胞神经支配重组。以上结果将ATP与耳蜗发育关系的理解推进了一步。鉴于ATP-Cx-P2R功能紧密关联，我们推测其是一个功能单位，在听觉发育中发挥调控作用。为证实该假设，本项目拟检测Cx与ATP合成/转化有关的酶（蛋白）、P2R、PLC、IP3受体等是否存在基因转录协调性，蛋白/受体功能关联，功能单位的调控变化、在毛细胞神经支配重组中的作用。本研究对进一步阐明听觉发育机制有重要意义。

In the course of auditory development, the inner hair cells in the cochlea either fire spontaneous action potentials or fire induced action potentials elicited by ATP release from neighboring supporting cells in the K?lliker organ, thus promoting the maturation of the peripheral auditory organ. However, its regulatory mechanism still remains unclear. We have long been engaged in the research of ATP in the cochlea, and are the first to report the mechanism of ATP release from the marginal cells in the stria vascularis and supporting cells in the K?lliker organ, supporting cell apoptosis in vivo and proliferation in vitro. We found for the first time that P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) expression existed in the cuticular plate of the hair cell, the expression of IP3 receptor was associated with gap junction protein subunit 26 (Cx26), and Cx43 participated in the reorganization and refinement of innervation to the hair cells. These results pushed the understanding of the relationship between ATP and cochlear development forward. Given that the functions of ATP-Cx-P2R are closely related, we assume that it acts as a functional unit in the cochlea, exerting a regulatory role in auditory development. To substantiate this assumption, the present research will detect the coordination of gene transcription of Cx with the enzymes (proteins) relating to ATP synthesis and conversion, P2R, PLC, IP3 receptor, etc., the functional associations among proteins/receptors, and the regulating variation of the functional unit and its role in the reorganization and refinement of innervation to the hair cells. The present research has profound significance for the further elucidation of the developmental mechanism of the peripheral auditory organ.