Editing Cochlea (section)

===Role of gap junctions===
Gap-junction proteins, called [[connexin]]s, expressed in the cochlea play an important role in auditory functioning.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Zhao | first1 = H. -B. | last2 = Kikuchi | first2 = T. | last3 = Ngezahayo | first3 = A. | last4 = White | first4 = T. W. | title = Gap Junctions and Cochlear Homeostasis | doi = 10.1007/s00232-005-0832-x | journal = Journal of Membrane Biology | volume = 209 | issue = 2–3 | pages = 177–186 | year = 2006 | pmid = 16773501 | pmc =1609193 }}</ref> Mutations in gap-junction genes have been found to cause syndromic and nonsyndromic deafness.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Erbe | first1 = C. B. | last2 = Harris | first2 = K. C. | last3 = Runge-Samuelson | first3 = C. L. | last4 = Flanary | first4 = V. A. | last5 = Wackym | first5 = P. A. | title = Connexin 26 and Connexin 30 Mutations in Children with Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss | doi = 10.1097/00005537-200404000-00003 | journal = The Laryngoscope | volume = 114 | issue = 4 | pages = 607–611 | year = 2004 | pmid = 15064611 | s2cid = 25847431 }}</ref>  Certain connexins, including [[GJB6|connexin 30]] and [[GJB2|connexin 26]], are prevalent in the two distinct gap-junction systems found in the cochlea.  The epithelial-cell gap-junction network couples non-sensory epithelial cells, while the connective-tissue gap-junction network couples connective-tissue cells.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=Bo |last2=Hu |first2=Bohua |last3=Yang |first3=Shiming |title=Cell junction proteins within the cochlea: A review of recent research |journal=Journal of Otology |date=December 2015 |volume=10 |issue=4 |pages=131–135 |doi=10.1016/j.joto.2016.01.003|pmid=29937796 |pmc=6002592 }}</ref>  Gap-junction channels recycle potassium ions back to the endolymph after [[mechanotransduction]] in [[hair cells]].<ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1016/S0165-0173(99)00076-4 | last1 = Kikuchi | first1 = T. | last2 = Kimura | first2 = R. S. | last3 = Paul | first3 = D. L. | last4 = Takasaka | first4 = T. | last5 = Adams | first5 = J. C. | title = Gap junction systems in the mammalian cochlea | journal = Brain Research. Brain Research Reviews | volume = 32 | issue = 1 | pages = 163–166 | year = 2000 | pmid = 10751665| s2cid = 11292387 }}</ref>  Importantly, gap junction channels are found between cochlear supporting cells, but not auditory [[hair cells]].<ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1007/BF00186783 | last1 = Kikuchi | first1 = T. | last2 = Kimura | first2 = R. S. | last3 = Paul | first3 = D. L. | last4 = Adams | first4 = J. C. | title = Gap junctions in the rat cochlea: Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analysis | journal = Anatomy and Embryology | volume = 191 | issue = 2 | pages = 101–118 | year = 1995 | pmid = 7726389| s2cid = 24900775 }}</ref>