Children's Hearing Laboratory

Glenn E. Green, Laboratory Director

Introduction

Dr. Green is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. In addition to his clinical duties, Dr. Green maintains a research lab. His research studies are in congenital deafness. He has examined mutations in the gene GJB2 (connexin 26), the most common cause of hereditary congenital hearing loss in many countries. This is found in about half of persons with severe-to-profound congenital autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss. He has screened in 209 consecutive persons with congenital deafness of indeterminate etiology for GJB2 mutation using an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction assay, single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis, and direct sequencing.

He also examined an autosomal dominant, non-syndromic hearing loss with mutations in COL11A2 that are predicted to affect the triple-helix domain of the collagen protein. Deafness is non-progressive and predominantly affects middle frequencies. Mice with a targeted disruption of COL11A2 also were shown to have hearing loss. Electron microscopy of the tectorial membrane of these mice revealed loss of organization of the collagen fibrils. Findings revealed a unique ultrastructural malformation of inner-ear architecture associated with non-syndromic hearing loss, and suggest that tectorial membrane abnormalities may be one aetiology of sensorineural hearing loss primarily affecting the mid-frequencies.

To find out more about his work, visit the following websites:

Kresge Hearing Research Institute

Department of Otolaryngology

Children's Hearing Menu

Children's Hearing Laboratory

Glenn E. Green, Laboratory Director

Introduction