Transient Abnormalities in Masking Tuning Curve in Early Progressive Hearing Loss Mouse Model

Figure 8

Abnormal OHC hair bundle shapes observed at the cochlear base in CD1 mice. SEM pictures of organ of Corti sections from CD1 mice at P18 ((a), (d), and (g)), P21 ((b), (e), and (h)), and P25 ((c), (f), and (i)). ((a), (b)) In the apical region, the OHC stereocilia bundles are normal at P18 and P21. (c) This apical section contains one OHC with an abnormal linear shape (red star). ((d), (e), and (f)) In the middle region at P18, P21, and P25, abnormal stereocilia bundles are found (asymmetric, linear, or hook-shaped) (red stars), and a few OHCs are missing at P25 (yellow stars). ((g), (h), and (i)) In the basal region, abnormal stereocilia bundles are observed at P18 and P21 (red stars, (g), (h)) and OHC losses are seen at P25 (yellow stars, (i)).

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