The University of Chicago Header Logo

Ruth Anne Eatock

TitleProfessor
InstitutionUniversity of Chicago
DepartmentNeurobiology
AddressChicago IL 60637
vCardDownload vCard

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse overview
    We study mechanosensory signaling by the inner ear. We focus on the mouse utricle, where we have access to mechanosensitive receptor cells and primary afferent neurons. In this simple circuit we can address fundamental neurobiological questions, such as mechanotransduction, the nature of a simple sensory map, how transmission occurs across unique calyceal synapses, and how different kinds of information are encoded in the spike rate and timing of primary afferent neurons.

    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse education and training
    Caltech, Pasadena CAPhDBiology
    McGill University, MontrealB.Sc.Honours Neurobiology
    McGill University, MontrealM.Sc.Biology
    MIT & Harvard, Cambridge, BostonAuditory Physiology

    Collapse Research 
    Collapse research activities and funding
    R01DC012347     (EATOCK, RUTH ANNE)Feb 16, 2012 - Feb 28, 2023
    NIH
    Synaptic Processing in the Vestibular System
    Role: Principal Investigator

    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse selected publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
    Newest   |   Oldest   |   Most Cited   |   Most Discussed   |   Timeline   |   Field Summary   |   Plain Text
    PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Ono K, Jarysta A, Hughes NC, Jukic A, Chang HHV, Deans MR, Eatock RA, Cullen KE, Kindt KS, Tarchini B. Contributions of mirror-image hair cell orientation to mouse otolith organ and zebrafish neuromast function. Elife. 2024 Nov 12; 13. PMID: 39531034; PMCID: PMC11556791.
      Citations:    
    2. Ono K, Jarysta A, Hughes NC, Jukic A, Chang HHV, Deans MR, Eatock RA, Cullen KE, Kindt K, Tarchini B. Contributions of mirror-image hair cell orientation to mouse otolith organ and zebrafish neuromast function. bioRxiv. 2024 Sep 06. PMID: 39282410; PMCID: PMC11398332.
      Citations:    
    3. Martin HR, Lysakowski A, Eatock RA. The potassium channel subunit KV1.8 (Kcna10) is essential for the distinctive outwardly rectifying conductances of type I and II vestibular hair cells. bioRxiv. 2024 Aug 18. PMID: 38045305; PMCID: PMC10690164.
      Citations:    
    4. Baeza-Loya S, Eatock RA. Effects of transient, persistent, and resurgent sodium currents on excitability and spike regularity in vestibular ganglion neurons. bioRxiv. 2024 Jul 27. PMID: 38076890; PMCID: PMC10705474.
      Citations:    
    5. Ashmore JF, Oghalai JS, Dewey JB, Olson ES, Strimbu CE, Wang Y, Shera CA, Abdala C, Eatock RA, Raphael RM, Altoè A, Elgoyhen AB. The Remarkable Outer Hair Cell: Proceedings of a Symposium in Honour of W. E. Brownell. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol. 2023 04; 24(2):117-127. PMID: 36648734; PMCID: PMC10121982.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    6. Govindaraju AC, Quraishi IH, Lysakowski A, Eatock RA, Raphael RM. Nonquantal transmission at the vestibular hair cell-calyx synapse: KLV currents modulate fast electrical and slow K+ potentials. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023 01 10; 120(2):e2207466120. PMID: 36595693; PMCID: PMC9926171.
      Citations: 10     Fields:    Translation:Cells
    7. Finkbeiner C, Eatock RA, Stone JS, González-Garrido A, Pujol R, López-Ramírez O. The Differentiation Status of Hair Cells That Regenerate Naturally in the Vestibular Inner Ear of the Adult Mouse. J Neurosci. 2021 09 15; 41(37):7779-7796. PMID: 34301830; PMCID: PMC8445055.
      Citations: 9     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    8. Ono K, Keller J, Zobeiri OA, Chang HHV, Vijayakumar S, Ayiotis A, Duester G, Della Santina CC, Jones SM, Cullen KE, Eatock RA, Wu DK, López Ramírez O, González Garrido A. Retinoic acid degradation shapes zonal development of vestibular organs and sensitivity to transient linear accelerations. Nat Commun. 2020 01 02; 11(1):63. PMID: 31896743; PMCID: PMC6940366.
      Citations: 36     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    9. Eatock RA. Specializations for Fast Signaling in the Amniote Vestibular Inner Ear. Integr Comp Biol. 2018 08 01; 58(2):341-350. PMID: 29920589; PMCID: PMC6104706.
      Citations: 24     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    10. McLean WJ, McLean DT, Eatock RA, Edge AS. Distinct capacity for differentiation to inner ear cell types by progenitor cells of the cochlea and vestibular organs. Development. 2016 12 01; 143(23):4381-4393. PMID: 27789624; PMCID: PMC5201044.
      Citations: 25     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    11. Liu XP, Wooltorton JR, Gaboyard-Niay S, Yang FC, Lysakowski A, Eatock RA. Sodium channel diversity in the vestibular ganglion: NaV1.5, NaV1.8, and tetrodotoxin-sensitive currents. J Neurophysiol. 2016 05 01; 115(5):2536-55. PMID: 26936982; PMCID: PMC4922472.
      Citations: 15     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    12. Schuth O, McLean WJ, Eatock RA, Pyott SJ. Distribution of Na,K-ATPase a subunits in rat vestibular sensory epithelia. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol. 2014 Oct; 15(5):739-54. PMID: 25091536; PMCID: PMC4164683.
      Citations: 12     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    13. Songer JE, Eatock RA. Tuning and timing in mammalian type I hair cells and calyceal synapses. J Neurosci. 2013 Feb 20; 33(8):3706-24. PMID: 23426697; PMCID: PMC3857958.
      Citations: 79     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    14. Liu XP, Eatock RA, Sibley DR, Grandy DK, Liberman MC, Maison SF. Dopaminergic signaling in the cochlea: receptor expression patterns and deletion phenotypes. J Neurosci. 2012 Jan 04; 32(1):344-55. PMID: 22219295; PMCID: PMC3313790.
      Citations: 39     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    15. Lysakowski A, Gaboyard-Niay S, Calin-Jageman I, Chatlani S, Price SD, Eatock RA. Molecular microdomains in a sensory terminal, the vestibular calyx ending. J Neurosci. 2011 Jul 06; 31(27):10101-14. PMID: 21734302; PMCID: PMC3276652.
      Citations: 74     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    16. Eatock RA, Songer JE. Vestibular hair cells and afferents: two channels for head motion signals. Annu Rev Neurosci. 2011; 34:501-34. PMID: 21469959.
      Citations: 136     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    17. Kalluri R, Xue J, Eatock RA. Ion channels set spike timing regularity of mammalian vestibular afferent neurons. J Neurophysiol. 2010 Oct; 104(4):2034-51. PMID: 20660422; PMCID: PMC2957450.
      Citations: 55     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    18. Liu XP, Vetter DE, Eatock RA, Nathanson NM, Liberman MC, Maison SF, Wess J. Muscarinic signaling in the cochlea: presynaptic and postsynaptic effects on efferent feedback and afferent excitability. J Neurosci. 2010 May 12; 30(19):6751-62. PMID: 20463237; PMCID: PMC3332094.
      Citations: 24     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    19. Eatock RA. Neuroscience: Up, down, flying around. Nature. 2009 Mar 12; 458(7235):156-7. PMID: 19279623.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    20. Eatock RA, Xue J, Kalluri R. Ion channels in mammalian vestibular afferents may set regularity of firing. J Exp Biol. 2008 Jun; 211(Pt 11):1764-74. PMID: 18490392; PMCID: PMC3311106.
      Citations: 32     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    21. Xia A, Wooltorton JR, Palmer DJ, Ng P, Pereira FA, Eatock RA, Oghalai JS. Functional prestin transduction of immature outer hair cells from normal and prestin-null mice. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol. 2008 Sep; 9(3):307-20. PMID: 18506528; PMCID: PMC2538149.
      Citations: 6     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    22. Wooltorton JR, Gaboyard S, Hurley KM, Price SD, Garcia JL, Zhong M, Lysakowski A, Eatock RA. Developmental changes in two voltage-dependent sodium currents in utricular hair cells. J Neurophysiol. 2007 Feb; 97(2):1684-704. PMID: 17065252.
      Citations: 45     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    23. Hurley KM, Gaboyard S, Zhong M, Price SD, Wooltorton JR, Lysakowski A, Eatock RA. M-like K+ currents in type I hair cells and calyx afferent endings of the developing rat utricle. J Neurosci. 2006 Oct 04; 26(40):10253-69. PMID: 17021181; PMCID: PMC6674627.
      Citations: 62     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    24. Spector AA, Popel AS, Eatock RA, Brownell WE. Mechanosensitive channels in the lateral wall can enhance the cochlear outer hair cell frequency response. Ann Biomed Eng. 2005 Aug; 33(8):991-1002. PMID: 16133908.
      Citations: 4     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    25. Wong WH, Hurley KM, Eatock RA. Differences between the negatively activating potassium conductances of Mammalian cochlear and vestibular hair cells. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol. 2004 Sep; 5(3):270-84. PMID: 15492886; PMCID: PMC2504553.
      Citations: 13     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    26. Eatock RA. Auditory physiology: listening with K+ channels. Curr Biol. 2003 Sep 30; 13(19):R767-9. PMID: 14521855.
      Citations: 4     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    27. Bao H, Wong WH, Goldberg JM, Eatock RA. Voltage-gated calcium channel currents in type I and type II hair cells isolated from the rat crista. J Neurophysiol. 2003 Jul; 90(1):155-64. PMID: 12843307.
      Citations: 45     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    28. Vollrath MA, Eatock RA. Time course and extent of mechanotransducer adaptation in mouse utricular hair cells: comparison with frog saccular hair cells. J Neurophysiol. 2003 Oct; 90(4):2676-89. PMID: 12826658.
      Citations: 37     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    29. Eatock RA, Hurley KM. Functional development of hair cells. Curr Top Dev Biol. 2003; 57:389-448. PMID: 14674488.
      Citations: 30     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    30. Brichta AM, Aubert A, Eatock RA, Goldberg JM. Regional analysis of whole cell currents from hair cells of the turtle posterior crista. J Neurophysiol. 2002 Dec; 88(6):3259-78. PMID: 12466445.
      Citations: 29     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    31. Eatock RA, Hurley KM, Vollrath MA. Mechanoelectrical and voltage-gated ion channels in mammalian vestibular hair cells. Audiol Neurootol. 2002 Jan-Feb; 7(1):31-5. PMID: 11914523.
      Citations: 11     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    32. Liu M, Pereira FA, Price SD, Chu MJ, Shope C, Himes D, Eatock RA, Brownell WE, Lysakowski A, Tsai MJ. Essential role of BETA2/NeuroD1 in development of the vestibular and auditory systems. Genes Dev. 2000 Nov 15; 14(22):2839-54. PMID: 11090132; PMCID: PMC317056.
      Citations: 109     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    33. Chen JW, Eatock RA. Major potassium conductance in type I hair cells from rat semicircular canals: characterization and modulation by nitric oxide. J Neurophysiol. 2000 Jul; 84(1):139-51. PMID: 10899192.
      Citations: 35     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    34. Eatock RA. Adaptation in hair cells. Annu Rev Neurosci. 2000; 23:285-314. PMID: 10845066.
      Citations: 85     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    35. Oghalai JS, Holt JR, Nakagawa T, Jung TM, Coker NJ, Jenkins HA, Eatock RA, Brownell WE. Harvesting human hair cells. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2000 Jan; 109(1):9-16. PMID: 10651405.
      Citations: 7     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    36. Eatock RA, Newsome WT. Sensory systems. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 1999 Aug; 9(4):385-8. PMID: 10448170.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    37. Bermingham NA, Hassan BA, Price SD, Vollrath MA, Ben-Arie N, Eatock RA, Bellen HJ, Lysakowski A, Zoghbi HY. Math1: an essential gene for the generation of inner ear hair cells. Science. 1999 Jun 11; 284(5421):1837-41. PMID: 10364557.
      Citations: 474     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    38. Holt JR, Vollrath MA, Eatock RA. Stimulus processing by type II hair cells in the mouse utricle. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1999 May 28; 871:15-26. PMID: 10372060.
      Citations: 8     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    39. Lysakowski A, Eatock RA, Rüsch A. Postnatal development of type I and type II hair cells in the mouse utricle: acquisition of voltage-gated conductances and differentiated morphology. J Neurosci. 1998 Sep 15; 18(18):7487-501. PMID: 9736667; PMCID: PMC6793223.
      Citations: 101     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    40. Eatock RA, Lysakowski A, Saeki M, Rüsch A. Hair cells in mammalian utricles. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1998 Sep; 119(3):172-81. PMID: 9743073.
      Citations: 27     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    41. Oghalai JS, Holt JR, Nakagawa T, Jung TM, Coker NJ, Jenkins HA, Eatock RA, Brownell WE. Ionic currents and electromotility in inner ear hair cells from humans. J Neurophysiol. 1998 Apr; 79(4):2235-9. PMID: 9535985.
      Citations: 13     Fields:    Translation:HumansCellsCTClinical Trials
    42. Holt JR, Corey DP, Eatock RA. Mechanoelectrical transduction and adaptation in hair cells of the mouse utricle, a low-frequency vestibular organ. J Neurosci. 1997 Nov 15; 17(22):8739-48. PMID: 9348343; PMCID: PMC6573088.
      Citations: 42     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    43. Eatock RA, Rüsch A. Developmental changes in the physiology of hair cells. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 1997 Jun; 8(3):265-275. PMID: 10024489.
      Citations: 6     Fields:    
    44. Eatock RA, Rüsch A. A delayed rectifier conductance in type I hair cells of the mouse utricle. J Neurophysiol. 1996 Aug; 76(2):995-1004. PMID: 8871214.
      Citations: 54     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    45. Eatock RA, Rüsch A. Voltage responses of mouse utricular hair cells to injected currents. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1996 Jun 19; 781:71-84. PMID: 8694485.
      Citations: 14     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    46. Holt JR, Eatock RA. Inwardly rectifying currents of saccular hair cells from the leopard frog. J Neurophysiol. 1995 Apr; 73(4):1484-502. PMID: 7543944.
      Citations: 40     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    47. Eatock RA, Saeki M, Hutzler MJ. Electrical resonance of isolated hair cells does not account for acoustic tuning in the free-standing region of the alligator lizard's cochlea. J Neurosci. 1993 Apr; 13(4):1767-83. PMID: 8385208; PMCID: PMC6576735.
      Citations: 9     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    48. Nealey T, Spires S, Eatock RA, Begenisich T. Potassium channels in squid neuron cell bodies: comparison to axonal channels. J Membr Biol. 1993 Feb; 132(1):13-25. PMID: 8459446.
      Citations: 5     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    49. Eatock RA, Hutzler MJ. Ionic currents of mammalian vestibular hair cells. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1992 May 22; 656:58-74. PMID: 1376099.
      Citations: 10     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    50. Smith-Maxwell CJ, Eatock RA, Begenisich T. Induction of K-channel expression in a neuroblastoma cell line. J Neurobiol. 1991 Jun; 22(4):327-41. PMID: 1890419.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    51. Eatock RA, Weiss TF, Otto KL. Dependence of discharge rate on sound pressure level in cochlear nerve fibers of the alligator lizard: implications for cochlear mechanisms. J Neurophysiol. 1991 Jun; 65(6):1580-97. PMID: 1875264.
      Citations: 6     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    52. Eatock RA, Corey DP, Hudspeth AJ. Adaptation of mechanoelectrical transduction in hair cells of the bullfrog's sacculus. J Neurosci. 1987 Sep; 7(9):2821-36. PMID: 3498016; PMCID: PMC6569155.
      Citations: 129     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    Eatock's Networks
    Click the
    Explore
    buttons for more information and interactive visualizations!
    Concepts (228)
    Explore
    _
    Similar People (60)
    Explore
    _
    Same Department Expand Description
    Explore
    _
    Physical Neighbors
    _