Direct reprogramming of somatic cells to an inner ear sensory hair cell-like state provides an experimental platform to identify causes and treatments for hair cell loss and hearing deficits.

A new method is described to apply rapid and uniform mechanical forces to vestibular and cochlear hair cells.

Immunolabelling and morphological assessment, complemented by complete transcriptomic analysis, demonstrates that supporting cells can be induced to convert towards a hair cell-like phenotype in human vestibular sensory epithelia.

The remarkable lifelong stability of mechanotransducing stereocilia of the inner ear hair cells depends on the activity of the transduction ion channels located at the tips of these mechanosensory projections.

Single-cell transcriptomic analysis defines hair cell and supporting cell types in the zebrafish inner ear, and reveals homologies with cells in the mammalian ear.

The mammalian utricle can better regenerate hair cells compared to the cochlea because it maintains hair cell gene loci in a more transcriptionally accessible state.

Cuticulosomes are organelles found in the hair cells of birds that are composed of ferritin nanoparticles, form rapidly after hatching by the fusion of vesicular structures, and may play an indirect role in magnetic sensation.

In hair cells, the development and maintenance of the F-actin-enriched stereocilia and cuticular plates are differentially regulated by transcription factors SRF and MRTFB, and SRF–CNN2 is required for modulating actin dynamics of the stereocilia and cuticular plate.

Several support cell populations balance progenitor maintenance with differentiation in zebrafish lateral line sensory organs.

Supporting cells in the cochlea change their shape in response to purinergic receptor activation, which influences hair cell excitability by altering potassium redistribution in the extracellular space.