Our laboratory focuses on four major areas of research in auditory physiology and associated disorders. First, we investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the decoding of sound stimuli by highly specialized cells in the inner ear. In particular, we have identified the genes involved in synaptic transmission between descending neurons from the brain and auditory sensory hair cells. These genes encode membrane receptors that function as ion channels. This efferent system regulates the dynamic range of hearing and plays a critical role in the detection of sounds in noisy environments. Second, we study the histopathological consequences of exposure to intense sound on the inner ear, with the goal of understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying noise-induced hearing loss. Third, we investigate the genetic basis of hereditary hearing loss in humans, identifying disease-causing variants and elucidating their functional consequences. Finally, we study the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the perception of phantom sounds, including tinnitus. Our laboratory employs a broad range of experimental approaches, including structure–function analysis of proteins using molecular biology, site-directed mutagenesis, and recombinant protein expression in heterologous systems; the generation of animal models with altered auditory function; histopathological analyses in animal models; auditory physiological assessments in rodents; electrophysiological studies of synaptic function in auditory sensory cells; and molecular genetic diagnosis of hereditary hearing disorders in humans.

 

Integrantes del grupo

Daniela Chequer
Doctoral Fellow CONICET
danichch92@gmail.com

Mariela V. Pace
Doctoral Fellow CONICET
marielav.pace@gmail.com

Lucia Agüero
Doctoral Fellow CONICET
laguero@ingebi-conicet.gov.ar ; lucia@ague.ro

Gretel P. Wenk
Master in Medical Molecular Biology Student, UBA
gre.pw@live.com.ar

Virginia Sández Pérez
Biotechnology and Molecular Biology Student, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Universidad Nacional de La Plata

Sofia Grinberg
Biochemistry Student, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, UBA

Lucio Raimondi
Biological Science Student, FCEN, UBA

Claudia Gatto
Lab Technician
claloga@gmail.com

Publicaciones

Tinnitus and tinnitus disorder: Genetic, neurobiological, and clinical differentiation.
De Ridder D, Kleinjung T, Song JJ, Adhia D, Hall M, Yasoda-Mohan A, Vanneste S, Londero A, Weisz N, Schlee W, Elgoyhen AB, Cederroth C, Lopez-Escamez JA, Gallus S, Schoisswohl S, Sedley W, Searchfield G, Park SN, Langguth B.
iScience. 2026 Jun 3;29(6):116080. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.116080. PMID:42291209; PMCID: PMC13255023.

Tinnitus.
Vanneste S, De Ridder D, Gallus S, Husain FT, Kleinjung T, Langguth B, Lopez-Escamez JA, Schlee W, Yasoda-Mohan A, Elgoyhen AB.
Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2026 May 21;12(1):29. doi: 10.1038/s41572-026-00702-0. PMID: 42168216.

Co-release of GABA and ACh from Medial Olivocochlear Neurons as a Fine Regulatory Mechanism of Cochlear Efferent Inhibition.
Castagnola T, Castagna VC, Torres Cadenas L, Kitcher SR, Di Guilmi MN, Gomez-Casati ME, Beaulac HJ, Buonfiglio PI, Dalamón V, Katz E, Elgoyhen AB, Weisz CJC, Goutman JD, Wedemeyer C.
JNeurosci. 2025 Nov 12;45(46):e1653242025. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1653-24.2025. PMID:41038647; PMCID:PMC12614061.

Strengthening Medial Olivocochlear Feedback Reduces the Developmental Impact of Early Noise Exposure.
Castagna VC, Boero LE, Di Guilmi MN, Catalano Di Meo C, Ballestero JA, Fuchs PA, Lauer AM, Elgoyhen AB, Gomez-Casati ME.
J Neurosci.2025 Sep 24;45(39):e0805252025. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0805-25.2025. PMID:40829940; PMCID: PMC12419220.

In silico and in vivo analyses of a novel variant in MYO6 identified in a family with postlingual non-syndromic hearing loss from Argentina.
Buonfiglio PI, Bruque CD, Salatino L, Lotersztein V, Pace M, Grinberg S, Elgoyhen AB, Plazas PV, Dalamón V.
NAR Genom Bioinform. 2024 Dec 11;6(4):lqae162. doi: 10.1093/nargab/lqae162. PMID: 39664812; PMCID: PMC11632615.

Comprehensive Approach for the Genetic Diagnosis of Patients with Waardenburg Syndrome.
Buonfiglio PI, Izquierdo A, Pace MV, Grinberg S, Lotersztein V, Brun P, Bruque CD, Elgoyhen AB, Dalamón V.
J Pers Med. 2024 Aug 27;14(9):906. doi: 10.3390/jpm14090906. PMID: 39338160; PMCID: PMC11433630.

Key role of the TM2-TM3 loop in calcium potentiation of the α9α10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.
Gallino SL, Agüero L, Boffi JC, Schottlender G, Buonfiglio P, Dalamon V, Marcovich I, Carpaneto A, Craig PO, Plazas PV, Elgoyhen AB.
Cell Mol Life Sci. 2024 Aug 9;81(1):337.
doi:10.1007/s00018-024-05381-2. PMID: 39120784; PMCID: PMC11335262.

Novel Pathogenic Variants in the Gene Encoding Stereocilin (STRC) Causing Non-Syndromic Moderate Hearing Loss in Spanish and Argentinean Subjects.
Domínguez-Ruiz M, Ruiz-Palmero L, Buonfiglio PI, García-Vaquero I, Gómez-Rosas E, Goñi M, Villamar M, Morín M, Moreno-Pelayo MA, Elgoyhen AB, Del Castillo FJ, Dalamón V, Del Castillo I.
Biomedicines. 2023 Oct 31;11(11):2943. doi:10.3390/biomedicines11112943. PMID:38001944; PMCID:PMC10668944.

Engineering olivocochlear inhibition to reduce acoustic trauma.
Zhang Y, Hiel H, Vincent PFY, Wood MB, Elgoyhen AB, Chien W, Lauer A, Fuchs PA.
Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev. 2023 Feb 26;29:17-31. doi: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.02.011. PMID:36941920; PMCID:PMC10023855.

The α9α10 acetylcholine receptor: A non-neuronal nicotinic receptor.
Elgoyhen AB.
Pharmacol Res. 2023 Apr;190:106735. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106735.
Epub 2023 Mar 15. PMID: 36931539.

Mitochondrial DNA variants in a cohort from Argentina with suspected Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).
Buonfiglio PI, Menazzi S, Francipane L, Lotersztein V, Ferreiro V, Elgoyhen AB, Dalamón V.
PLoS One. 2023 Feb 24;18(2):e0275703. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275703. PMID: 36827238; PMCID: PMC9956067.

The evolutionary tuning of hearing.
Lipovsek M, Elgoyhen AB.
Trends Neurosci. 2023 Feb;46(2):110-123. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2022.12.002. Epub 2023 Jan 6. PMID: 36621369.

Volume electron microscopy reveals age-related circuit remodeling in the auditory brainstem.
Chequer Charan D, Hua Y, Wang H, Huang W, Wang F, Elgoyhen AB, Boergens KM, Di Guilmi MN.
Front Cell Neurosci. 2022 Dec 15;16:1070438. doi:10.3389/fncel.2022.1070438. PMID: 36589288; PMCID: PMC9799098.

The α9α10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor: a compelling drug target for hearing loss?
Elgoyhen AB.
Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2022 Mar;26(3):291-302. doi:10.1080/14728222.2022.2047931. Epub 2022 Mar 7. PMID:35225139; PMCID:PMC9007918.

Predicting pathogenicity for novel hearing loss mutations based on genetic and protein structure approaches.
Buonfiglio PI, Bruque CD, Lotersztein V, Luce L, Giliberto F, Menazzi S, Francipane L, Paoli B, Goldschmidt E, Elgoyhen AB, Dalamón V.
Sci Rep. 2022 Jan 7;12(1):301. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-04081-2. PMID: 34997062; PMCID: PMC8741999.

The Hair Cell α9α10 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor: Odd Cousin in an Old Family.
Lipovsek M, Marcovich I, Elgoyhen AB.
Front Cell Neurosci. 2021 Nov 15;15:785265. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2021.785265. PMID:34867208; PMCID:PMC8634148.

The Cholinergic Lateral Line Efferent Synapse: Structural, Functional and Molecular Similarities With Those of the Cochlea.
Plazas PV, Elgoyhen AB.
Front Cell Neurosci. 2021 Oct 12;15:765083. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2021.765083. PMID: 34712122; PMCID: PMC8545859.

Synaptic Contributions to Cochlear Outer Hair Cell Ca2+ Dynamics.
Moglie MJ, Wengier DL, Elgoyhen AB, Goutman JD.
J Neurosci. 2021 Aug 11;41(32):6812-6821. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3008-20.2021. Epub 2021 Jul 12. PMID: 34253627; PMCID: PMC8360681.

Loss of Choline Agonism in the Inner Ear Hair Cell Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Linked to the α10 Subunit.
Moglie MJ, Marcovich I, Corradi J, Carpaneto Freixas AE, Gallino S, Plazas PV, Bouzat C, Lipovsek M, Elgoyhen AB.
Front Mol Neurosci. 2021 Feb 5;14:639720. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.639720. PMID: 33613194; PMCID: PMC7892445.

Purinergic Signaling Controls Spontaneous Activity in the Auditory System throughout Early Development.
Babola TA, Li S, Wang Z, Kersbergen CJ, Elgoyhen AB, Coate TM, Bergles DE.
J Neurosci. 2021 Jan 27;41(4):594-612. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2178-20.2020. Epub 2020 Dec 10. PMID: 33303678; PMCID:PMC7842760.

Unraveling the Molecular Players at the Cholinergic Efferent Synapse of the Zebrafish Lateral Line.
Carpaneto Freixas AE, Moglie MJ, Castagnola T, Salatino L, Domene S, Marcovich I, Gallino S, Wedemeyer C, Goutman JD, Plazas PV, Elgoyhen AB.
J Neurosci. 2021 Jan 6;41(1):47-60. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1772-20.2020. Epub 2020 Nov 17. PMID: 33203744; PMCID:PMC7786207.

GJB2 and GJB6 Genetic Variant Curation in an Argentinean Non-Syndromic Hearing-Impaired Cohort.
Buonfiglio P, Bruque CD, Luce L, Giliberto F, Lotersztein V, Menazzi S, Paoli B, Elgoyhen AB, Dalamón V.
Genes (Basel). 2020 Oct 21;11(10):1233. doi:10.3390/genes11101233. PMID:33096615; PMCID:PMC7589744.

GJB2 and GJB6 Genetic Variant Curation in an Argentinean Non-Syndromic Hearing-Impaired Cohort.
Buonfiglio P, Bruque CD, Luce L, Giliberto F, Lotersztein V, Menazzi S, Paoli B, Elgoyhen AB, Dalamón V.
Genes (Basel). 2020 Oct 21;11(10):1233. doi:10.3390/genes11101233. PMID:33096615

(E)-3-Furan-2-yl-N-p-tolyl-acrylamide and its Derivative DM489 Decrease Neuropathic Pain in Mice Predominantly by α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Potentiation.
Arias HR, Ghelardini C, Lucarini E, Tae HS, Yousuf A, Marcovich I, Manetti D, Romanelli MN, Elgoyhen AB, Adams DJ, Di Cesare Mannelli L.
ACS Chem Neurosci. 2020 Nov 4;11(21):3603-3614. doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00476. Epub 2020 Oct 19.PMID: 33073974

Functional Postnatal Maturation of the Medial Olivocochlear Efferent-Outer Hair Cell Synapse.
Vattino LG, Wedemeyer C, Elgoyhen AB, Katz E.
J Neurosci. 2020 Jun 17;40(25):4842-4857. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2409-19.2020. Epub 2020 May 19.PMID: 32430293

Preventing presbycusis in mice with enhanced medial olivocochlear feedback.
Boero LE, Castagna VC, Terreros G, Moglie MJ, Silva S, Maass JC, Fuchs PA, Delano PH, Elgoyhen AB, Gómez-Casati ME.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 May 26;117(21):11811-11819. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2000760117. Epub 2020 May 11.PMID: 32393641

Distinct Evolutionary Trajectories of Neuronal and Hair Cell Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors.
Marcovich I, Moglie MJ, Carpaneto Freixas AE, Trigila AP, Franchini LF, Plazas PV, Lipovsek M, Elgoyhen AB.Mol Biol Evol. 2020 Apr 1;37(4):1070-1089. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msz290.PMID: 31821508

Selectivity of (±)-citalopram at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and different inhibitory mechanisms between habenular α3β4* and α9α10 subtypes.
Arias HR, Jin XT, Gallino S, Peng C, Feuerbach D, García-Colunga J, Elgoyhen AB, Drenan RM, Ortells MO.
Neurochem Int. 2019 Dec;131:104552. doi: 10.1016/j.neuint.2019.104552. Epub 2019 Sep 20.PMID: 31545995

Strengthening of the Efferent Olivocochlear System Leads to Synaptic Dysfunction and Tonotopy Disruption of a Central Auditory Nucleus.
Di Guilmi MN, Boero LE, Castagna VC, Rodríguez-Contreras A, Wedemeyer C, Gómez-Casati ME, Elgoyhen AB.
J Neurosci. 2019 Sep 4;39(36):7037-7048. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2536-18.2019. Epub 2019 Jun 19.PMID: 31217330

Inner Ear Genes Underwent Positive Selection and Adaptation in the Mammalian Lineage.
Pisciottano F, Cinalli AR, Stopiello JM, Castagna VC, Elgoyhen AB, Rubinstein M, Gómez-Casati ME, Franchini LF.
Mol Biol Evol. 2019 Aug 1;36(8):1653-1670. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msz077.PMID: 31137036

Developmental Synaptic Changes at the Transient Olivocochlear-Inner Hair Cell Synapse.
Kearney G, Zorrilla de San Martín J, Vattino LG, Elgoyhen AB, Wedemeyer C, Katz E.
J Neurosci. 2019 May 1;39(18):3360-3375. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2746-18.2019. Epub 2019 Feb 12.PMID: 30755493

Therapeutic Approaches to the Treatment of Tinnitus.
Langguth B, Elgoyhen AB, Cederroth CR.
Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2018 Jul 25. doi: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-010818-021556

Enhancement of the Medial Olivocochlear System Prevents Hidden Hearing Loss.
Boero LE, Castagna VC, Di Guilmi MN, Goutman JD, Elgoyhen AB, Gómez-Casati ME.
J Neurosci. 2018 Aug 22;38(34):7440-7451. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0363-18.2018. Epub 2018 Jul 20.PMID: 30030403

Commentary: Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor α9 and α10 Subunits Are Expressed in the Brain of Mice.
Morley BJ, Whiteaker P, Elgoyhen AB.
Front Cell Neurosci. 2018 May 1;12:104. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00104

Tricyclic antidepressants inhibit hippocampal α7* and α9α10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by different mechanisms.
Arias HR, Vázquez-Gómez E, Hernández-Abrego A, Gallino S, Feuerbach D, Ortells MO, Elgoyhen AB, García-Colunga J.
Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2018 Apr 25;100:1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.biocel.2018.04.017.

A Gain-of-Function Mutation in the α9 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Alters Medial Olivocochlear Efferent Short-Term Synaptic Plasticity.
Wedemeyer C, Vattino LG, Moglie MJ, Ballestero J, Maison SF, Di Guilmi MN, Taranda J, Liberman MC, Fuchs PA, Katz E, Elgoyhen AB.
J Neurosci. 2018 Apr 18;38(16):3939-3954. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2528-17.2018.

Deletion of dopamine D2 receptors from parvalbumin interneurons in mouse causes schizophrenia-like phenotypes.
Tomasella E, Bechelli L, Ogando MB, Mininni C, Di Guilmi MN, De Fino F, Zanutto S, Elgoyhen AB, Marin-Burgin A, Gelman DM.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 Mar 27;115(13):3476-3481. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1719897115

Compartmentalization of antagonistic Ca2+ signals in developing cochlear hair cells.
Moglie MJ, Fuchs PA, Elgoyhen AB, Goutman JD.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 Feb 27;115(9):E2095-E2104. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1719077115

Ana Belén Elgoyhen

  • Senior Research Scientist, National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina.
  • Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires (UBA).
  • Vicedirectora Interina, INGEBI.
  • Honorary Adjunct Professor, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
  • B.Sc. in Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, 1984
  • Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, 1991
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, USA, 1991–1994
  • PEW Latin American Fellow, 1991–1994
  • Joined the Scientific Research Career (CIC), CONICET, 1990
  • Assistant Professor of Physiology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, 1989–1991
  • Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, 2001–present.
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute International Research Scholar, 1997–2012
  • John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellow, 2003–2004
  • Elected Member, Collegium Oto-Rhino-Laryngologicum Amicitiae Sacrum, 2004
  • Laureate, L’Oréal–UNESCO International Award for Women in Science, 2008
  • Distinguished Researcher of the Nation of Argentina, 2012
  • Elected Fellow, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), 2014
  • Elected Member, Latin American Academy of Sciences (ACAL), 2016
  • Grand Prix, Fondation Pour l’Audition, 2018
  • Elected Member, National Academy of Sciences of Argentina, 2020