Fig 5.

Atoh1 expression as revealed in the embryonic ear with PCR (35 cycles; A) and in the vestibular ganglion of postnatal animals with Q-PCR (B). Atoh1 presence was evaluated using PCR in two ears of E10.5 mice. Note that only one ear is positive for the PCR product, suggesting that Atoh1 expression starts in the ear around E10.5. All three ears of E11.5 old mice were Atoh1 positive (data not shown), suggesting that Atoh1 expression in the ear starts around E10.5. Q-PCR of vestibular ganglia show expression of Atoh1 after 37 cycles at P0 and P7 using both 3′ and 5′ primers. No Neurog1 was detectable in these cells, but Neurod1, known to be expressed in these cells, was detectable at about the same level as Atoh1. These data show the presence of Atoh1 mRNA in the vestibular ganglion in postnatal animals.