Chronic Lead Exposure Results in Auditory Deficits and Disruption of Hair Cells in Postweaning Rats

<div>Morphological changes in hair cells following lead exposure. (a, b) Scanning electron microscope images of the representative cochlea sensory epithelium surface. Day 0 tissue displayed three rows of orderly OHCs with V-shaped stereocilia bundles. Lead exposure resulted in irregular stereocilia bundles of hair cells, and some stereocilia bundles showed a disorganized or fused shape or were lost. (c) Quantification of cilia in OHCs. (d) Quantification of cilia in IHCs. The percentages of missing cilia were calculated and compared between the two groups. 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Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity

fig2

Figure 2

Figure 2: Chronic Lead Exposure Results in Auditory Deficits and Disruption of Hair Cells in Postweaning Rats 