Peter A. Santi, PhD

Contact Information Phone: 612-626-9881 Fax: 612-626-9871 Email: psanti@umn.edu Address: Lions Research Building Room 121 2001 Sixth Street SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 Lab Phone: 612-626-9882 Other Website: http://mousecochlea.umn.edu

Professor
Director, Cochlear Anatomy Laboratory

Research

The overall goal of the Santi laboratory is to minimize or prevent hearing loss in humans by improving our understanding normal structure/function of the inner ear and characterize pathologies of the cochlea that result in hearing loss.  My research uses the mouse animal model and human temporal bones for anatomical research.  The laboratory consists of a primary space for histological processing of tissue, and a vibration isolated space for imaging in the Lions Research Building/Translation Research Facility.  A major effort in my laboratory is the development of a new microscope for high resolution imaging of the whole inner ear in animals and humans.  This microscope produces well-aligned image stacks of the inner ear that are suitable for 3D reconstruction of inner ear structures.  Advanced imaging and computer reconstruction allows for the generation of complete 2D and 3D atlases of the cochlea that are used to produce average cochlea models, and development of a 3D coordinate system of the cochlea for a morphometric analysis of cochlear structures.

Education & Training

Graduate School
Florida State University

Honors and Awards

1989, Outstanding Achievement Award, Florida State University

1990-present, Editorial Board of Hearing Research

2000-present, Editor and on the Executive Council, Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO) (elected to serve three times)

2002, Invited Speaker, Nobel Symposium, Stockholm, Sweden

Funding Sources 

NIDCD/NIH, Capita Foundation
Digital Technology Center, Biomedical Engineering Institute

Recent Publications

Rapson, I., P.A. Santi, and A. Voie. "Development of the mouse cochlea database (MCD)." Hearing Res, Sept. 2008, 243:11-17.

Santi, P.A., et al.  "Distribution of Type IV Collagen in the Cochlea in Alport Syndrome." Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Nov. 2005, 131:1007-1013

Santi, P. A. and Mancini, P. (1992) Anatomy of the Cochlea and Central Auditory Pathways, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 2nd. edition, Ed. Cummings, C. W., Mosby-Year Book, Inc., St. Louis.

Santi, PA and Mancini, P. (1998) Cochlear Anatomy and Central Auditory Pathways. Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ed. C. Cummings, 3rd. Edition, pp. 2803-2830, Mosby, St. Louis.

Swartz DJ, Santi PA (1999) Immunolocalization of tenascin in the chinchilla inner ear. Hear. Res. 130:108-14.

Tsuprun, V. and Santi, P. (2000) Helical Structure of Hair Cell Stereocilia Tip Links in the Chinchilla Cochlea. JARO, 1:224-231.

Tsuprun, V. and Santi, P.A. (2000) Helical structure of hair cell stereocilia tip links In the chinchilla cochlea. JARO 1: 224-231

Tsuprun, V. and Santi, P.A. (2001) Proteoglycan arrays in the cochlear basement membrane. Hear Res 157: 65-76.

Tsuprun, V. and Santi, P.A.(2002) Structure of outer hair cell stereocilia side and attachment links in the chinchilla cochlea J. Histochem. Cytochem. 50: 493-502.