Figure 1
From: Incomplete and delayed Sox2 deletion defines residual ear neurosensory development and maintenance
Altered morphology of the Sox2 CKO inner ear.
(a-b’) 3D-reconstruction reveals severe changes in the developing inner ear at E12.5 and E14.5. (b,b’) No ampullae of semicircular canals and only rudiments of the posterior and anterior semicircular canals are present in Sox2 CKO. The utricle and saccule are smaller. (a’,b’) The cochlear duct (cd) has decreased coiling and is shorter compared to controls. (c–f) Scanning electron microscopy shows a few individual cells and small clumps of cells with a hair cell-like phenotype in the base of the Sox2 CKO cochlea (arrows). (d) The rest of the organ of Corti is missing as shown by the overview of the whole cd width and by magnification of the sensory epithelium area. (d’) HCs vary in size, orientation and bundle organization. (e,f) The cellular phenotype of differentiated HCs in the Sox2 CKO utricle is comparable to controls. aa, anterior ampulla; asc, anterior semicircular canal; cd, cochlear duct; ed, endolymphatic duct; la, lateral ampulla; lsc, lateral semicircular canal; pa, posterior ampulla; psc, posterior semicircular canal; sac, saccule; ut, utricle; OHC, outer hair cells; IHC, inner hair cells. Scale bars: 50 μm (c,d), 5 μm (c’,d’,e,f).
