Spiner, deep learning-based automated detection of spiral ganglion neurons in intact cochleae

Summary: Tissue clearing and light-sheet fluorescence microscopy were applied for 3D profiling of intact cochleae. However, the spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) remain relatively understudied compared to hair cells and supporting cells, especially in large animal models. Here, we: (1) introduced colla...

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Main Authors: Yuheng Cai, Greta M. Leitz-Najarian, Reuben Rosen, Kendall A. Hutson, Adele Moatti, Chen Li, Douglas C. Fitzpatrick, Alon Greenbaum
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:iScience
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225011903
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author Yuheng Cai
Greta M. Leitz-Najarian
Reuben Rosen
Kendall A. Hutson
Adele Moatti
Chen Li
Douglas C. Fitzpatrick
Alon Greenbaum
author_facet Yuheng Cai
Greta M. Leitz-Najarian
Reuben Rosen
Kendall A. Hutson
Adele Moatti
Chen Li
Douglas C. Fitzpatrick
Alon Greenbaum
author_sort Yuheng Cai
collection DOAJ
description Summary: Tissue clearing and light-sheet fluorescence microscopy were applied for 3D profiling of intact cochleae. However, the spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) remain relatively understudied compared to hair cells and supporting cells, especially in large animal models. Here, we: (1) introduced collagenase treatment to the current protocol of tissue clearing to enhance uniform antibody staining of SGNs within the pig cochlea and (2) adopted a deep learning object detection model to locate and count SGNs in large 3D datasets via Spiner (Spiral ganglion neuron profiler). Using this approach, Type I SGNs in intact gerbil and pig cochleae were detected and counted in 3D, and Spiner counts were consistent with manual counts. We believe broad adaptation of the method will improve understanding of the SGN population and their role in hearing loss. Codes for a user-friendly web interface were provided for model running and fine-tuning, making it accessible to those without programming experience.
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issn 2589-0042
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spelling doaj-art-a9772c38b2b14327aa93ed42b8522b682025-08-20T03:17:27ZengElsevieriScience2589-00422025-07-0128711292910.1016/j.isci.2025.112929Spiner, deep learning-based automated detection of spiral ganglion neurons in intact cochleaeYuheng Cai0Greta M. Leitz-Najarian1Reuben Rosen2Kendall A. Hutson3Adele Moatti4Chen Li5Douglas C. Fitzpatrick6Alon Greenbaum7Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USADepartment of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USALampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USADepartment of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USALampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USALampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USADepartment of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USALampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; Corresponding authorSummary: Tissue clearing and light-sheet fluorescence microscopy were applied for 3D profiling of intact cochleae. However, the spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) remain relatively understudied compared to hair cells and supporting cells, especially in large animal models. Here, we: (1) introduced collagenase treatment to the current protocol of tissue clearing to enhance uniform antibody staining of SGNs within the pig cochlea and (2) adopted a deep learning object detection model to locate and count SGNs in large 3D datasets via Spiner (Spiral ganglion neuron profiler). Using this approach, Type I SGNs in intact gerbil and pig cochleae were detected and counted in 3D, and Spiner counts were consistent with manual counts. We believe broad adaptation of the method will improve understanding of the SGN population and their role in hearing loss. Codes for a user-friendly web interface were provided for model running and fine-tuning, making it accessible to those without programming experience.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225011903Optical imagingCellular neuroscienceSensory neuroscience
spellingShingle Yuheng Cai
Greta M. Leitz-Najarian
Reuben Rosen
Kendall A. Hutson
Adele Moatti
Chen Li
Douglas C. Fitzpatrick
Alon Greenbaum
Spiner, deep learning-based automated detection of spiral ganglion neurons in intact cochleae
iScience
Optical imaging
Cellular neuroscience
Sensory neuroscience
title Spiner, deep learning-based automated detection of spiral ganglion neurons in intact cochleae
title_full Spiner, deep learning-based automated detection of spiral ganglion neurons in intact cochleae
title_fullStr Spiner, deep learning-based automated detection of spiral ganglion neurons in intact cochleae
title_full_unstemmed Spiner, deep learning-based automated detection of spiral ganglion neurons in intact cochleae
title_short Spiner, deep learning-based automated detection of spiral ganglion neurons in intact cochleae
title_sort spiner deep learning based automated detection of spiral ganglion neurons in intact cochleae
topic Optical imaging
Cellular neuroscience
Sensory neuroscience
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225011903
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