Elisabeth B. Glowatzki, Ph.D.

Headshot of Elisabeth B. Glowatzki
  • Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

Research Interests

Physiology and function of the inner ear, specifically synaptic transmission between hair cells and auditory or vestibular nerve fibers; Function of efferent feedback pathways from the brain to the inner ear; Regeneration of inner ear connections between hair cells and nerve fibers using stem cell ...read more

Background

Dr. Glowatzki, earned her Ph.D. from the University of Kaiserslautern in Germany. She joined Johns Hopkins in 1998 where she focuses her research on understanding the first steps in the auditory and vestibular pathways. 

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Titles

  • Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
  • Professor of Neuroscience

Departments / Divisions

Centers & Institutes

  • Hearing and Balance, Center for
  • Sensory Biology, Center for

Education

Degrees

  • Ph.D.; University of Kaiserslautern (Germany) (1993)

Additional Training

  • Eberhard-Karls University, Teubingen, Germany, 1996, Neuroscience and Hearing; Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 2000, Neuroscience and Hearing

Research & Publications

Research Summary

In the inner ear, the cochlea perceives sound signals and the vestibular organs perceive rotations of our head. In both organs, the sensory cells, hair cells, perceive a mechanical signal, and convert it into an electrical signal, that is transmitted to the brain, via auditory or vestibular nerve fibers. Our research focuses on understanding this first step in the auditory and vestibular pathways, the synaptic transmission of the sound or head movement signal from hair cell to nerve fiber. It is crucial for our correct sense of hearing and balance, that the incoming signals tothe brain is coded precisely. Deficits in this first step of signal transmission to the brain may cause deficits in hearing or balance, and a better understanding of these mechanisms will allow us to find better cures for pathologies in hearing and balance.

Lab

Lab Website: Elizabeth Glowatzki Lab

Selected Publications

Fakler B, Brändle U, Glowatzki E, Zenner H -P, Ruppersberg JP, Kir 2.1 inward rectifier K+ channels are regulated independently by protein kinases and ATP hydrolysis. Neuron. 1994; 13:1413-1420.

Fakler B, Brändle U, Bond C, Glowatzki E, Konig C, Adelman JP, Zenner HP, Ruppersberg JP, A structural determinant of differential sensitivity of cloned inward rectifier K+ channels to intracellular spermine. FEBS Letters. 1994; 356(2-3):199-203.

Fakler B, Brändle U, Glowatzki E, Weidemann S, Zenner H-P, Ruppersberg JP, Strong voltage-dependent inward rectification of inward rectifier K+ channels is caused by intracellular spermine. Cell. 1995; 80:149-154.

Glowatzki E, Fakler G, Brändle U, Rexhausen U, Zenner H-P, Ruppersberg JP, Fakler B, Subunit-dependent assembly of inward rectifier K+ channels. Proc R Soc Lond B. 1995; 261: 151-152.

Glowatzki E, Wild K, Brändle U, Fakler G, Fakler B, Zenner H-P, Ruppersberg JP, Cell-specific expression of the a9 n-ACh receptor subunit in auditory hair cells revealed by single-cell RT-PCR. Proc R Soc Lond B. 1995; 262: 141-147.

Brändle U, Spielmanns P, Osteroth R,  Sim J, Surprenant A, Buell G, Ruppersberg JP,  Plinkert PK,  Zenner H-P, Glowatzki  E, Desensitization of the P2X2 receptor controlled by alternative splicing. FEBS Letters. 1997; 404: 294-298.

Glowatzki E,  Ruppersberg JP,  Zenner H-P,  Rüsch A, Mechanically and ATP-induced currents of mouse outer hair cells are independent and differently blocked by d-tubocurarine. Neuropharmacology. 1997; 36(9): 1269-1275.

Glowatzki, E, Fuchs PA, Cholinergic synaptic inhibition of inner hair cells in the neonatal mammalian cochlea. Science. 2000; 288: 2366-2368.

Paukert, M, Osteroth, R, Geisler, H-S, Braendle, U, Glowatzki, E, Ruppersberg, JP, Gruender, S, Inflammatory mediators potentiate ATP-gated channels through the P2X3 subunit. J Biol Chem. 2001; 276(24): 21077-21082.

Glowatzki, E, Fuchs, PA, Transmitter release at the hair cell ribbon synapse. Nature Neuroscience. 2002; (5)2:147-154.

Glowatzki, E, Holt, JC, Boulter, J, Zadina, JE, Elgoyhen, AB, Guth, PS, The a9/a10-containing nicotinic ACh receptor is directly modulated by opioid peptides, endomorphin-1 and dynorphin B, proposed efferent co-transmitters in the inner ear. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. 2002; 20:695-711.

Glowatzki, E, Lioudyno, MI, Fuchs, PA, Elgoyhen, AB, Linopirdine blocks a9a10-containing nicotinic cholinergic receptors of cochlear hair cells. Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology. 2004; 5(3):261-269.

PA, GlowatzkiE, Developmental regulation of nicotinic synapses on cochlear inner hair cells. Journal of Neuroscience. 2004; 24(36):7814-7820.

Glowatzki, E, Ryugo, D, Valle, D, PHR1, a PH domain-containing protein, expressed in primary sensory neurons.Molecular and Cellular Biology. 2004; 24(20): 9137-9151. 

Glowatzki, E, Trimmer, J, Aldrich, R, Extrasynaptic localization of inactivating BK channels in mouse inner hair cells. Journal of Neuroscience. 2004; 24(43):9469-9474.

Lioudyno, M, Hiel H, Kong, JH, Katz. E, Waldman, E, Parameshwaran-Iyer, S, Glowatzki, E, Fuchs, PA,.A "synaptoplasmic cistern" mediates rapid inhibition of cochlear hair cells. Journal of Neuroscience. 2004; 24(49):11160-11164.

Glowatzki, E, Facilitating efferent inhibition of inner hair cells in the cochlea of the neonatal rat. Journal of Physiology. 2005; 566.1:49-59.

Glowatzki, E, Chen, N, Hiel,H, Jin, L, Yi, E, Tanaka, K, Ellis-Davies,JCR, Rothstein,JD, Bergles, DE, The glutamate-aspartate transporter (GLAST) mediates glutamate uptake at inner hair cell afferent synapses in the mammalian cochlea. Journal of Neuroscience. 2006; 26(29):7659-7664.

Glowatzki, E, Lustig, LR, Progressive deafness and alterered cochlear innervation in knock-out mice lacing prosaposin. Journal of Neuroscience. 2006;26(50):13076-13088.

Glowatzki, E, Time course and calcium dependence of transmitter release at a single ribbon synapse. PNAS 2007; 104 (41):16341-16346.

Glowatzki, E, Bergles, DE. The origin of spontaneous activity in the developing auditory system. Nature 2007, 450:50-55.

Yi, E, Weber, CM, Grant, L, Yoo, J, Clause, A, Kandler, K, Noebels, JL, Glowatzki, E, LustigLR, Edwards, RH, Sensorineural deafness and seizures in mice lacking vesicular glutamate transporter 3. Neuron 2008, 57(2):263-75. 

Oshima, K, Glowatzki, E,  Edge, ASB  Differentiation of inner ear stem cells to functional sensory neurons. Developmental Biology 2008; 68(5):669-84.

McLean WJ, Smith KA, Glowatzki E, Pyott SJ. Distribution of the Na,K-ATPase alpha Subunit in the Rat Spiral Ganglion and Organ of Corti. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol. 2009; 10 (1):37-49.

Glowatzki E, Fuchs P. The postsynaptic function of type II cochlear afferents. Nature 2009; 461(7267):1126-9.

Glowatzki E. Two modes of release shape the postsynaptic response at the inner hair cell ribbon synapse. Journal of Neuroscience 2010, 30(12):4210-4220.

Yi E, Roux I, Glowatzki E. Dendritic HCN channels shape excitatory postsynaptic potentials at the inner hair cell afferent synapse in the mammalian cochlea. Journal of Neurophysiol 2010; 103(5):2532-43.

Goutman JD, Glowatzki E. Short-term facilitation modulates size and timing of the synaptic response at the inner hair cell ribbon synapse. Journal of Neuroscience 2011; 31(22):7974-81. PMCID: PMC3125715.

Roux I, Wersinger E, McIntosh JM, Fuchs PA, Glowatzki E.Onset of cholinergic efferent synaptic function in sensory hair cells of the rat cochlea. Journal of Neuroscience 2011; 31(42):15092-101. PMCID: PMC3213862.

Weisz CJC, Lehar M, Hiel H, Glowatzki E, Fuchs PA. Synaptic Transfer from Outer Hair Cells to Type II Afferent Fibers in the Rat Cochlea. Journal of Neuroscience 2012; 32(28):9528-9536.

Korrapati S, Roux I, Glowatzki E, Doetzlhofer A. Notch signaling limits supporting cell plasticity in the hair cell-damaged early postnatal murine cochlea. PLoS One 2013; 8(8):e73276.

Weisz CJC, Glowatzki, E, Fuchs, P. Excitability of Type II Cochlear Afferents. Journal of Neuroscience 2014; 34(6):2365-2373.

Contact for Research Inquiries

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
720 Rutland Avenue
Ross 824
Baltimore, MD 21205 map
Phone: 410-502-7008
Fax: 410-614-4748

Academic Affiliations & Courses

Courses and Syllabi

  • Structure and Function of the Auditory and Vestibular System Center for Hearing and Balance, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Lecturer. Since 8/2013: Director. (BME 580.625)
    2004 - 2013
  • Neuroscience Elective Course: Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Synaptic Transmission, Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Spring 2007; Spring 2009; Spring, 2011; 2.30-5pm weekly, 9 weeks, WBSB 903 (Instructor together with Dr. Dwight Bergles, Dr. Paul Worley, Dr. Solange Brown). (ME:440-707)
    2007
  • Cellular and Molecular Biology of Sensation, Johns Hopkins University, lecture series for undergraduate students. Lecturer.
    2009 - 2014

Activities & Honors

Honors

  • 2023 Pioneer Award in Basic Science, Association for Research in Otolaryngology, 2023 - 2023
  • Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst, German academic exchange program, 1997 - 1999
  • Burt Evans Young Investigator Award, National Organization for Hearing Research Foundation, 2004
  • Leadership program for Woman Faculty, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 2009 - 2010

Memberships

  • American Physiological Society, 2010
  • Animal Research Committee, Association for Research in Otolaryngology, 2006 - 2008
  • Association for Research in Otolaryngology, 1997
  • Federation of European Neuroscience Societies, 2002
  • German Neuroscience Society (Neurowissenschaftliche Gesellschaft), 2002
  • Society for Neuroscience, 1999

Professional Activities

  • Advisory Board, Johns Hopkins Office of Women in Science and Medicine, 2013
  • Editorial Board, Hearing Research, 2014
  • guest editor, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2013
  • Leadership program for Woman Faculty, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 2009 - 2010
  • Master Mentor Program, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 2012 - 2013
  • Organizer of the Center for Hearing and Balance Seminar Series, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 2007 - 2012
  • Peer reviewer, Neuron
  • Peer reviewer, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
  • Peer reviewer, The Journal of Neuroscience
  • Peer reviewer, The Journal of Neurophysiology
  • Peer reviewer, The Journal of Physiology
  • Peer reviewer, Neuroscience
  • Peer reviewer, Journal of Neuroscience Methods
  • Peer reviewer, Journal of the Association of Research in Otolaryngology (JARO)
  • Peer reviewer, Audiology & Neuro-Otology
  • Peer reviewer, Journal of Neurochemistry
  • Peer reviewer, Journal of Comparative Neurology
  • Peer reviewer, eLife
  • Peer reviewer, Current Biology
  • Peer reviewer, Cell and Tissue Research
  • Postdoctoral Affairs Advisory Board, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 2014

Videos & Media

Lectures and Presentations

  • Identification of the mRNA of ion channel subunits in hair cells of the mammalian cochlea
    Baylor College of Medicine, Houston (01/01/1996)
    Department of Otolaryngology
  • Molecular basis and physiology of ligand-gated ion channels in sensory cells of the mammalian cochlea
    Medical Sciences, Department of Physiology, UK (01/01/1996)
    University of Bristol
  • Expression of a P2X
    School of Biological Sciences, 2 receptor splice variant in auditory hair cells, Brighton (01/01/1996)
    University of Sussex
  • Molecular determinants of P2X
    2 receptor desensitization in outer hair cells of the rat cochlea, St Petersburg (01/01/1997)
    International Union of the Physiological Sciences
  • Molecular basis and physiology of P2X receptors in hair cells of the mammalian cochlea
    School of Medicine, Center of Hearing Sciences, Baltimore (01/01/1997)
    Johns Hopkins University
  • Cholinergic synaptic currents in inner hair cells before the onset of hearing
    Neuroscience Department, Baltimore (01/01/1999)
    Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
  • Innervation and synaptic transmission in the developing mammalian cochlea
    ‘Physiological Approaches to Ion Channel Biology’, Cold Spring Harbor (01/01/2000)
    Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Courses
  • Synaptic inhibition of cochlear hair cells
    Symposium 'Olivocochlear Feedback': Mechanism and Function, St Petersburg (01/01/2001)
    Association for Research in Otolaryngology Midwinter Meeting
  • Postsynaptic activity at the inner hair cell-afferent fiber
    Symposium 'Signal Transduction in the Auditory System', Goettingen (01/01/2001)
    Max-Planck Institut fuer Experimentelle Medizin
  • Synaptic transmission in the mammalian cochlea
    Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Ann Arbor (01/01/2002)
    University of Michigan
  • Synaptic transmission at the hair cells in the inner ear
    Vollum Institute, Vollum Seminar Series, Portland (01/01/2002)
    Oregon Health Sciences University
  • Transmitter release at the hair cell ribbon synapse
    Society for Neuroscience 32nd Annual Meeting, Orlando (01/01/2002)
  • Postsynaptic currents at the hair cell ribbon synapse
    Physiological Society, Research Symposium 'Building Hearing', London (01/01/2002)
    University College London
  • Transmitter release at the hair cell ribbon synapse
    Houston (01/01/2005)
    University of Texas Medical Center Seminar Series
  • Postsynaptic mechanism enabling high fidelity signaling at the inner hair cell afferent synapse
    Washington DC (01/01/2005)
    Society for Neuroscience 35th Annual Meeting
  • Dendritic regulation of afferent activity at the inner hair cell ribbon synapse
    Symposium on Ribbon synapses: physiology, molecular dynamics, Paris (01/01/2006)
    College de France
  • Synaptic transmission at the hair cell ribbon synapse
    Neuroscience Seminar, Eugene (01/01/2006)
    University of Oregon
  • Transmitter release at the hair cell afferent synapse: mechanisms underlying high fidelity signaling in the inner ear
    Sensory Biology: Understanding our Windows to the Worlds, Baltimore (01/01/2006)
    Johns Hopkins University
  • Synaptic transmission at the hair cell afferent synapse in the mammalian cochlea
    Bronx (01/01/2007)
    Albert Einstein College of Medicine
  • Mechanism for coding sound at the hair cell’s afferent synapse
    Symposium on ‘Modulation of Primary Sensory Function’, Baltimore (01/01/2007)
    51st Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society
  • Mechanism underlying Adaptation at the Inner Hair Cell Ribbon Synapse in the Mammalian Cochlea
    Department of Neuroscience, Charlottesville (01/01/2007)
    University of Virginia
  • Transmitter release at the hair cell ribbon synapse
    Boston (01/01/2007)
    Eaton Peabody Laboratory
  • Transmitter release at the inner hair cell ribbon synapse
    Rutgers Woman in Neuroscience Seminar Series, New Brunswick (01/01/2008)
    Rutgers University
  • Transmitter release at a single ribbon synapse
    Neuroscience Department, Boston (01/01/2008)
    Harvard Medical School
  • Synaptic Transmission in the Mammalian Cochlea
    Gordon Conference Auditory System, New London (01/01/2008)
  • Time course and calcium dependence of transmitter release at the hair cell ribbon synapse
    FASEB Summer Research Conferences, Snowmass (01/01/2008)
    Retina; Neurobiology and Visual Processing
  • Synaptic transmission at the inner hair cell ribbon synapse in the mammalian cochlea
    Zoophysiology and Behavior Group, Germany (01/01/2008)
    University of Oldenburg
  • Maturation of Synaptic Transmission at the Inner Hair Cell Afferent Synapse
    7th Molecular Biology of Hearing and Deafness, Boston (01/01/2009)
    Harvard Medical School
  • Properties of transmitter release at the hair cell afferent synapse
    Bethesda (01/01/2009)
    NIH Neuroscience Series
  • Maturation of Synaptic Transmission at the Inner Hair Cell Afferent Synapse
    Minisymposium on “Functional Properties of Synaptic Transmission in Primary Sensory Organs”, Chicago (01/01/2009)
    Neuroscience Meeting
  • Two modes of release shape the postsynaptic activity at the inner hair cell afferent synapse
    Portland (01/01/2010)
    The Vollum Institute Seminar Series
  • Two modes of release shape the postsynaptic activity at the inner hair cell afferent synapse
    Sensory Transduction, The gateway to perception: mechanisms and pathology, Titisee (01/01/2010)
    International Titisee Conferences
  • Synaptic transmission in the inner ear
    Scottsdale (01/01/2011)
    American Auditory Society
  • Glutamatergic neurotransmission at the vestibular hair cell – calyx synapse
    Goettingen (01/01/2011)
    Ribbon Synapses Symposium
  • Properties of synaptic transmission at different hair cell ribbon synapses
    Symposium on Molecular Anatomy and Physiology of the Ribbon Synapse, San Diego (01/01/2012)
    Association of Research in Otolaryngology Midwinter Meeting 2012
  • Synaptic transmission at different hair cell ribbon synapses
    Sensory Neuroscience and Neuroengineering Seminar Series, Stanford (01/01/2012)
    Stanford School of Medicine
  • Synaptic transmission at different hair cell ribbon synapses
    St Michaels (01/01/2012)
    Johns Hopkins University Department of Neuroscience Annual Retreat
  • Afferent Synaptic Transmission in the Inner Ear: A Comparison of Mechanisms at Work in the Cochlea and in the Vestibular System
     Auditory Neuroscience Research Retreat; Keynote Address, Iowa City (01/01/2013)
    University of Iowa
  • Afferent Synaptic Transmission at the Hair Cell Ribbon Synapse
    Department of Neurobiology Seminar Series, Pittsburgh (01/01/2014)
    University of Pittsburgh
  • Afferent Synaptic Transmission at the Hair Cell Ribbon Synapse
    Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Speaker Series, Chicago (01/01/2014)
    Northwestern University
  • Mechanisms for setting up Firing Rates in Auditory and Vestibular Nerve Fibers
    Seminar Series at the Eaton Peabody Laboratories of Auditory Research, Boston (01/01/2014)
    Harvard Medical School
  • Cellular Mechanisms underlying Auditory Nerve Fiber Activity in the Inner Ear
    Hearing Center Seminar Series, Boston (01/01/2014)
    Boston University
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