Description
Peripherin is a Class-III neuronal intermediate filament protein that can either form an independent structural network or collaborate with other neuronal intermediate filament proteins, such as NEFL, NEFH, NEFM, and INA, to create filamentous networks. In the mouse cochlea, peripherin is predominantly expressed in type II spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). Mice with a peripherin knockout exhibit impaired synaptic connectivity in SGNs and heightened susceptibility to noise-induced damage, highlighting the protein's critical role in maintaining neuronal function and structural integrity within the auditory system