Following Ad-EGFP-atoh1 infection, a number of the infected LER cells (EGFP positive) transformed to hair-cell-like cells (myosin7A positive) with an oblong or round shape, whereas other cells remained nonsensory epithelial cells (p27kip1) with a polygonal, flat shape (Fig. 5A and B). This evidence concerns the gene ATOH1 and infection.