Figure 2
Hearing loss and cell death in the organ of Corti after unilateral kanamycin injection. (a) ABRs of kanamycin-injected ears, contralateral ears and sham-operated ears 7 days after operation. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. The ABR thresholds on the left (deafened) side (blue circles) are elevated for 35–45 dB Sound Pressure Level (SPL) compared with the sham-operated ear (orange circles) across all frequencies. N = 5 each, *p < 0.05 by two-way ANOVA in comparison with sham and right contralateral side. (b–e) HE stainings to show changes of the cochlear structure following kanamycin-induced unilateral hearing loss. (b) Normal structure of the basal turn of the cochlea and (c) its magnified image indicating the outer hair cells (*) and inner hair cells (+). Red arrowhead indicates Deiter’s cells. (d) Structure of the basal turn of the cochlea 7 days after kanamycin injection and (e) its magnified image. In kanamycin-injected ear, loss of inner and outer hair cells, and rupture of reticular lamina and tunnel of Corti are observed, while pillar cells and other supporting cells are partly preserved. Scale bars = 50 μm.
