2001; Veuillet et al. 2001; Araki et al. 2002; McEvoy and Allen 2002; Freedman et

al. 2003; Lippiello 2006; Martin and Freedman 2007; Wallace and Porter 2011 and references therein). Also, the association of certain auditory deficits and nicotine abuse, mostly associated with cigarette smoking, has further focused speculation on the role of α7 in these pathologies and the possible advantages of therapeutically targeting this receptor for symptomatic relief Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical in these cases (Araki et al. 2002; McEvoy and Allen 2002; Simosky et al. 2002; Freedman et al. 2003; Levin et al. 2006; Lippiello 2006; Martin and Freedman 2007; Wallace and Porter 2011). In this context, our results suggest additional lines of investigation. For example, in α7Cre:DTA cell lineage ablation there are collapsed cochlear ducts and abnormal innervation indicating that the cells express α7 and the cells that Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical do so contribute an obligatory role in the successful development and long-term function of these structures. Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical The α7 receptor could also

participate in auditory performance after birth, including functions related to the central auditory pathways. This study also adds the possibility of an effect by α7 on the performance of the spiral ligament. These cells exhibit a cholinergic response that is most often Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical described in terms of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (Khan et al. 2002; Maison et al. 2010), and their dysfunction is related to several pathogenic auditory deficiencies (Spicer and Schulte 1991; Slepecky et al. 1995; Kikuchi et al. 2000; Sun et al. 2012). The role of α7 has, to our knowledge, not been examined in these cells. Collectively, the Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical potential for α7 functional pleiotropy in the auditory system is similar to other tissues we

have recently examined (Rogers and Gahring 2012). Thus, multiple defects that impact upon adult function could be expected depending upon the timing, SB431542 in vitro duration, and nature of the receptor dysfunction. Acknowledgments This work was supported by National found Institutes of Health grants AG017517, DA025057, and AG029838. Conflict of Interest None declared.
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a class of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication, as well as repetitive or stereotyped behaviors (American Psychiatric Association [DSM-IV-TR] 2000). In addition to these characteristic diagnostic criteria, individuals with ASD exhibit impairments in a host of higher cognitive functions, such as theory of mind, empathy, language, and imitation (for review, see Klin et al. 2002; Minshew and Williams 2007; Oberman and Ramachandran 2007).