不同种属实验动物耳蜗毛细胞年龄相关性缺失的不同模式

目的 展示自然衰老和耳聋相关基因遗传缺陷之间耳蜗毛细胞缺失的不同模式。方法 用不同龄的长尾猴、南美栗鼠、豚鼠、Sprague-Dawley 大鼠、CBA/CaJ 小鼠、C57BL/6J 小鼠、A/J小鼠、DBA/2J 小鼠和侏儒灰色突变纯合子 (dwg/dwg) 小鼠作为受试对象。所有测试动物的耳蜗基底膜都被制作成平坦的耳蜗基底膜铺片。沿着耳蜗基底膜的全长,基底膜上所有的内外毛细胞都被完整计数,毛细胞的计数结果被输入到耳蜗图软件并自动生成每组实验条件的平均耳蜗图。结果 在天然衰老的动物中,耳蜗毛细胞的缺失总是发生在老年阶段。与此不同的是,在耳聋相关基因缺陷的动物中,耳蜗毛细胞的缺失却是发生在青年阶段甚至幼年阶段。发生在天然老化动物的耳蜗毛细胞缺失总是呈均匀分布或从耳蜗的顶回向底回扩展。 但是,发生在具有耳聋相关基因遗传缺陷动物的耳蜗毛细胞缺失却通常表现为从耳蜗的底回向顶回扩展。结论 本实验观察结果表明,发生在天然衰老的不具备耳聋相关基因缺陷动物身上的年龄相关性耳蜗毛细胞缺失反映的是真正由衰老引起的耳蜗退化性病变,而发生在伴有耳聋相关基因遗传缺陷的年幼动物身上的年龄相关性耳蜗毛细胞缺失可能与耳聋相关基因的遗传缺陷有关。     

CBA小鼠内耳感觉上皮的参考数据

目的测量成年CBA小鼠耳蜗和前庭的有关数据,为内耳感受器定量分析提供参考依据。方法将6只出生后3个月左右的成年CBA小鼠(12耳)的耳蜗和前庭各终器取出并制备成全耳蜗基底膜铺片和全前庭终器铺片。测量全耳蜗基底膜的总长度,以及基底膜和Corti器在耳蜗不同部位的宽度。观察并记录全耳蜗毛细胞的总数和基底膜上不同区间的毛细胞密度。观察并记录椭圆囊斑和球囊斑毛细胞的总数及其微纹区和周边区的毛细胞密度,记录壶腹嵴上的毛细胞密度。结果正常成年CBA小鼠的耳蜗基底膜长度为(5.76±0.196)毫米(平均数±标准差,下同),基底膜的宽度在耳蜗底部距起始端约1.5毫米处为(339.1±9.87)微米,在耳蜗中部距起始端约3毫米处为(304.5±11.82)微米,在耳蜗顶部距起始端约5毫米处为(300.1±7.22)微米,说明小鼠耳蜗基底膜的宽度从底回到顶回逐渐变窄。Corti器的宽度在耳蜗底部距起始端1.5毫米处为(37.80±2.24)微米,在耳蜗中部距起始端约3毫米处为(45.00±2.67)微米,在耳蜗顶部距起始端约5毫米处为(52.20±3.16)微米,可见Corti器的宽度从底回到顶回逐渐变宽。CBA小鼠全耳蜗毛细胞的总数为(3116.41±151.91)个,其中内毛细胞总数为(680.67±17.50)个,而外毛细胞的总数是(2435.8±143.46)个。耳蜗内、外毛细胞的平均密度为(541.1±9.36)个/毫米,其中内毛细胞的平均密度为(118.3±2.68)个/毫米,外毛细胞的平均密度为(422.8±11.87)个/毫米,耳蜗毛细胞在耳蜗基底膜上不同区间的毛细胞密度无明显差异(P>0.05)。小鼠椭圆囊斑上的毛细胞总数为(3300±177.51)个,球囊斑上的毛细胞总数为(3045±361.57)个。前庭球囊斑和椭圆囊斑微纹区和周边区的毛细胞密度基本相同(P>0.05),两个囊斑微纹区的平均毛细胞密度为(40.2±6.59)个/0.0025mm2,两个囊斑周边区的平均毛细胞密度为(53.2±7.18)个/0.0025mm2,可见囊斑微纹区的毛细胞密度低于周边区。尽管小鼠上半规管和后半规管壶腹嵴的毛细胞区被位于嵴中央的上皮细胞分隔为两个区域,但三个壶腹嵴上的毛细胞密度基本相同,其平均密度为(44.7±7.15)个/0.0025mm2。结论本实验所得CBA小鼠耳蜗和前庭测量数据,为进一步定量观察CBA小鼠内耳病理学改变提供了重要的参考依据。     

C57BL/10J小鼠内耳形态学观察

目的 探讨不同月龄C57BL／10J小鼠内耳形态学变化。方法 取C57BL/10J小鼠2月龄3只（6耳）、8月龄3只（6耳）、12月龄2只（4耳）、27月龄2只（4耳），采用耳蜗铺片和耳蜗图技术，观察耳蜗和前庭毛细胞的变化。结果 2月龄鼠在耳蜗底回和顶回可见有少量的外毛细胞缺失，内毛细胞正常。8月龄鼠外毛细胞缺失主要由耳蜗底回向顶回发展，少量内毛细胞缺失主要在耳蜗底回，对应于20kHz的基底膜区域显示外毛细胞缺失在20％左右。12月龄鼠外毛细胞缺失明显加重，耳蜗底回部分几乎完全缺失，外毛细胞损失区域发展到基底膜中部，并且蜗尖区域外毛细胞缺失达到40％，耳蜗底回内毛细胞缺失达到60％～80％，蜗尖部分内毛细胞基本正常，对应于20kHz的基底膜区域显示外毛细胞缺失近80％，内毛细胞缺失近30％。27月龄鼠耳蜗外毛细胞从基底膜中部至底回完全缺失，顶回缺失60％～80％，内毛细胞缺失逐渐向蜗尖扩展，对应于20kHz的基底膜区域显示外毛细胞完全缺失，内毛细胞缺失超过50％。前庭选取球囊斑，椭圆囊斑和壶腹嵴三个部位进行观察，不同月龄的C57BL／10J鼠前庭毛细胞均正常。结论 本研究首次对C57BL／10J小鼠的内耳形态学进行观察，发现该鼠同C57BL／6J小鼠比较在外毛细胞缺失规律和时间上有明显的差别，明确了内耳毛细胞的变化规律；同时首次观察了前庭毛细胞，为C57BL／10J小鼠作为遗传性和老年性聋研究的动物模型提供了形态学理论依据。     

复方健耳剂对C57BL/6J小鼠AHL毛细胞的保护作用

目的探讨老年性耳蜗毛细胞损害与中药复方健耳剂两种喂药方法干预的作用。方法选择1月龄C57BL/6J小鼠22只用于本实验,其中4只小鼠每日饮用自来水直到出生后3个月作为幼龄对照组;6只小鼠每日饮用自来水直到出生后7个月作为老年性聋对照组;6只小鼠每日自动饮用中药复方健耳剂直到出生后7个月;另6只小鼠每日自动饮用同样中药至4个月后改用每日人工灌服直到出生后7个月。各组动物实验到期终止后,取耳蜗进行全耳蜗基底膜铺片,将全耳蜗内、外毛细胞计数结果输入计算机并应用耳蜗图软件进行耳蜗毛细胞密度对比分析,其中选择基底膜上重要的病变区间的毛细胞密度进行统计学分析。结果 3月龄对照组小鼠耳蜗外、内毛细胞缺损仅仅出现在耳蜗底回钩端区域;7月龄对照组外、内毛细胞缺损从底回基底膜起始端扩展到距离耳蜗顶端约40%区域;7月龄中药灌服组和自动饮用组动物的内、外毛细胞缺损范围和程度相似,均显著比7月龄对照组为轻(P<0.001)。结论中药复方健耳剂能够有效延缓C57BL/6J小鼠老年性耳蜗毛细胞损害的发生和发展,两种喂药方式所起作用相同(P>0.05),其药理机制可能与其改善微循环,清除活性氧,保护线粒体等作用相关。     

小鼠耳蜗内外毛细胞胞吞功能的实验研究

目的研究小鼠内外毛细胞胞吞功能的异同,探讨毛细胞胞吞功能与动物听功能之间的关系。方法选择出生后1月龄的正常C57BL/6J小鼠耳蜗基底膜在体外培养,以染料FM1-43为胞吞示踪剂,应用活细胞成像技术观察耳蜗内外毛细胞胞吞现象。结果内毛细胞的胞吞活动主要集中在细胞底部及核下区,而外毛细胞的胞吞活动则主要集中在核上区和外侧壁区。而且,在不同的观察时间点上,内毛细胞对FM1-43的摄入量均显著高于外毛细胞(P<0.05)。结论内毛细胞的胞吞活动集中出现在细胞底部及核下区,说明这种胞吞活动与内毛细胞带状突触的功能密切相关;外毛细胞的胞吞活动主要出现在核上区及细胞外侧壁,表明这种活动更多参与了外毛细胞纤毛及离子通道。内毛细胞比外毛细胞具有更强大的胞吞功能,表明内毛细胞在听功能的发育和维持中发挥着更为关键的作用。     

耳蜗突触发育与遗传诱生型进行性毛细胞变性的形态观察

已发现有许多突变基因能影响小鼠内耳，主要表现为形态发生学异常、蜗囊发育异常和神经上皮变性。但突变基因作用的主要位点不清楚。该作者观察了突变种jerner／J‘鼠的耳蜗毛细胞突触区的发育及形态变化，以评价耳蜗毛细胞变性与突触形态变化之间的相互关系。对出生后不同日龄的纯合子及杂合子加rker／J‘鼠和CBA／CBA小鼠迷路的光镜与电镜观察结果显示，新生CBA／CBA水鼠内毛细胞（IHC）底部主要为无囊泡形成的传入神经末梢及有少量囊泡形成的传出神经末梢，外毛细胞（OHC）表面仅有传入神经末梢。12日龄的CBA／CBA／J＼鼠和杂…     

c-Maf基因在小鼠耳蜗内外毛细胞中的表达及意义

目的研究c-Maf基因在小鼠耳蜗内、外毛细胞中的表达、分布特点及意义。方法 1)根据形态上的差异分离收集成年小鼠内、外毛细胞,利用Microarray基因芯片技术分别检测内、外毛细胞c-Maf基因RNA水平的表达;2)全耳蜗基底膜铺片,免疫组织化学染色后激光共聚焦显微镜观察c-Maf蛋白在不同发育阶段小鼠耳蜗内、外毛细胞中的分布特点及表达,并使用软件Image Pro Plus进行c-Maf蛋白定量分析。结果 1)耳蜗内、外毛细胞c-Maf基因RNA水平相近;2)c-Maf蛋白主要表达于成年小鼠的耳蜗内外毛细胞胞质,在内毛细胞的核下区表达强于核上区,且在内、外毛细胞的表达强度相近;3)c-Maf蛋白在小鼠出生后0天、7天、12天及成年小鼠耳蜗内、外毛细胞稳定表达。结论 c-Maf蛋白从出生开始在小鼠耳蜗内、外毛细胞上稳定表达,且在成年小鼠内毛细胞的核下区表达较强,表明其可能在毛细胞生长发育以及功能维持中发挥重要的作用。     

年龄相关听力损失BALB／c小鼠耳蜗形态学观察

目的 探讨年龄相关听力损失小鼠耳蜗毛细胞形态学变化,建立年龄相关听力损失动物模型.方法 分别取3、6、12、18月龄BALB/c小鼠测定其听性脑干反应(ABR)阈值,应用耳蜗铺片和扫描电镜技术,观察不同月龄鼠耳蜗毛细胞计数和形态的变化.结果 3、6、12月龄鼠8 kHz ABR反应阈分别为(24.8±5.1)、(51.5±6.7)和(92.5±7.5)dB SPL.18月龄组120 dB SPL刺激声无诱发反应.耳蜗铺片毛细胞计数自6月龄组外毛细胞出现显著缺失,随月龄增加而加重,由底回逐渐向顶回发展,至12月龄时耳蜗底回和中回外毛细胞几乎完全丧失,内毛细胞显著缺失.扫描电镜显示6月龄组小鼠耳蜗毛细胞静纤毛可见不同程度的缺失、转位、散乱、倒伏、融合、变短现象,随月龄增加而逐渐加重.结论 BALB/c小鼠听力损失、耳蜗毛细胞缺失和纤毛损害随年龄增加而逐渐加重,可作为年龄相关听力损失研究的合适动物模型     

全耳蜗毛细胞定量分析系统

目的 介绍一种计算机辅助下的全耳蜗毛细胞定量分析系统。方法 选取氨基糖甙类药物损伤、噪声性损伤以及老年性聋动物模型的耳蜗制备全耳蜗基底膜铺片，从蜗尖向蜗底逐个视野依次进行内外毛细胞计数，将采集的数据输入到计算机并用毛细胞定量分析系统制备成耳蜗图。结果 氨基糖甙类药物耳蜗损害模型的耳蜗图显示毛细胞缺损自底回向顶回发展，外毛细胞的损伤比内毛细胞严重；强噪声引起的毛细胞破坏局限在与刺激声频率相对应的基底膜区域；6月龄C57BL／6J小鼠的耳蜗图显示老年性聋的早期损害起始于耳蜗底回的起始端，其中外毛细胞的破坏比内毛细胞严重。结论 耳蜗毛细胞定量分析系统可清晰显示全耳蜗毛细胞在基底膜上不同部位的损失程度和破坏范围，并可对应到基底膜上各个频率敏感部位。将传统的耳蜗铺片与计算机技术相结合制备的耳蜗图，具有全面可靠、简便精确、规范等优点。     

衔接蛋白AP-2蛋白在小鼠耳蜗中的表达及意义

目的:研究衔接蛋白AP-2在小鼠耳蜗中的定位与表达,探讨AP-2蛋白与内毛细胞胞吞的相关性。方法:选择健康成年C57BL/6J小鼠,应用免疫荧光标记技术结合激光共聚焦显微镜观察AP-2蛋白在其耳蜗毛细胞的定位与表达。结果:AP-2蛋白主要定位于小鼠耳蜗内毛细胞细胞质,集中表达于内毛细胞基底部与带状突触靠近传入神经元区域。结论:AP-2蛋白在成年小鼠耳蜗中主要表达于内毛细胞突触活化部位,可能与内毛细胞突触囊泡的内吞作用相关,为深入研究AP-2蛋白在内耳听觉生理和病理机制中的作用奠定了基础。     

Influence of age on hair cell loss in the rabbit cochlea

The surface preparation technique was used for a study of cochlear hair cell loss as a function of age in rabbits 1 week, 6 months, 1 year, and 4 years old. Cytocochleograms from these animals were prepared which indicated damaged or missing hair cells over the entire spiral organ from the apical to the basal coil. The loss in the mean percentage of total outer hair cells (OHC) and inner hair cells (IHC) appeared to increase linearly with increasing age, with a statistically significant correlation. The cell loss was similar in all three rows of OHC in each of the age groups. In animals up to 1 year of age, areas of OHC loss were localized in the apical and basal coils. In 4-year-old rabbits, OHC degeneration had become progressively accentuated and widespread. The pattern of IHC loss was somewhat similar to that of OHC. Age-related hair cell loss in the rabbit is comparable to that in the rat, monkey, and human cochlea.     

卡铂导致毛细胞及其传出神经损害的耳蜗分析图

目的：介绍一种同时评估耳蜗传出神经和毛细胞的简便的组织化学技术。方法：首先应用脱氢酶染色选择性标记毛细胞,再用乙酰胆碱醌酶染色标记传出神经纤维,双重染色的耳蜗铺片样品在光学显微镜下沿着耳蜗基底膜的全长分别对毛细胞和穿越Ｃｏｒｔｉ隧道的传出神经纤维计数,根据卡铂耳中毒灰鼠的毛细胞及其传出神经纤维损伤的百分比制备耳蜗图。结果：耳蜗分析图充分显示;当绝大多数内毛细胞坏死以及部分外毛细胞坏死时,越隧道的传     

内毛细胞缺损对噪声引起外毛细胞损害的潜在影响

目的　观察噪声对正常灰鼠和内毛细胞缺损灰鼠的外毛细胞是否具有不同的破坏效应。方法　 6只正常灰鼠和 12只卡铂致聋灰鼠作为受试对象。提前 30天给 12只灰鼠按照 10 0mg/kg的剂量腹腔注射卡铂 ,以达到预先选择性破坏其内毛细胞的目的。将 6只正常灰鼠和 6只经卡铂处理的灰鼠移入噪声室 ,在强度为 12 0dB、中心频率在 4kHz的脉冲噪声环境暴露 6小时 ;另外 6只经卡铂处理的灰鼠不经噪声暴露作为对照组。在噪声暴露后 30天取出耳蜗 ,常规制备耳蜗铺片 ,然后进行全耳蜗毛细胞计数 ,并将各组动物的毛细胞计数结果制备成平均受损情况分布图 ,观察和比较噪声引起的外毛细胞损害水平在具有正常内毛细胞的灰鼠和丧失内毛细胞的灰鼠是否存在差别。结果　单纯注射卡铂的灰鼠内毛细胞平均损失在 90 %左右 ,但外毛细胞无损害。经噪声暴露的正常灰鼠外毛细胞在耳蜗底回中部约相当于 4kHz共振频率区域平均损失 6 0 % ,但是在该区域两侧靠近底回和顶回的外毛细胞损失少于 2 0 %。预先经卡铂破坏 95 %内毛细胞的灰鼠经噪声暴露后 ,外毛细胞在耳蜗底回中部平均损失达到 90 % ,在该区域两侧的外毛细胞损失百分比大于 4 0 %。结论　内毛细胞缺损可以造成更多的外毛细胞在噪声刺激中被破坏 ,提示正常内毛细胞的存在可能有     

Local mechanical properties of mouse outer hair cells: atomic force microscopic study

OBJECTIVES: Outer hair cells (OHCs) are capable of altering their cell length in response to changes in membrane potential. Due to this electromotility, OHCs probably subject the basilar membrane to force, resulting in cochlear amplification. To understand the mechanism of such amplification, knowledge of the mechanical properties of OHCs is required since the force produced by OHC electromotility is thought to depend on such properties. Various studies have been conducted to investigate the mechanical properties of guinea pig OHCs. With regard to mice, however, although various kinds of transgenic and knockout mice possess great potential as research models, the mechanical properties of mouse OHCs have not as yet been reported since the cells and/or tissues in the mouse hearing organ are relatively small and vulnerable to external stimuli, rendering sample preparation difficult. In this study, therefore, to establish indicators of the mechanical properties of OHCs in mice, such properties were measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). METHODS: CBA/JNCrj strain male mice aged 10-12 weeks (25-30 g) were used. Cochleae were dissected out from the animal and both the basilar membrane and the organ of Corti were simultaneously unwrapped from the modiolus with forceps. Dissected coiled tissue was then incubated with an enzymatic digestion medium for 15 min. After digestion, OHCs were isolated by gently triturating the coiled tissue. Local mechanical properties of the OHCs were then measured by an indentation test using an AFM. RESULTS: Young's modulus and stiffness of the OHC in the apical turn of the mouse cochlea were 2.1+/-0.5 kPa and 4.4+/-1.2 mN/m, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Young's modulus of the OHC in the apical turn of the cochlea in mice was roughly the same as that in the apical turn of the cochlea in guinea pigs; however, the stiffness of the former was about two times greater than that of the latter because the cell length of the former was shorter than that of the latter.     

小鼠自然老化过程中耳蜗的糖代谢障碍

应用定量组织化学技术分析了ＣＢＡ和Ｃ５７ＢＬ小鼠耳蜗中糖元代谢的改变，发现１８个月和３６个月龄ＣＢＡ小鼠的毛细胞和血管纹中，糖元含量比６周龄ＣＢＡ正常小鼠明显增高，说明在自然老化ＣＢＡ小鼠耳蜗中存在糖元储积现象。     

Effect of inner and outer hair cell lesions on electrically evoked otoacoustic emissions

When the cochlea is stimulated by a sinusoidal current, the inner ear emits an acoustic signal at the stimulus frequency, termed the electrically evoked otoacoustic emission (EEOAE). Recent studies have found EEOAEs in birds lacking outer hair cells (OHCs), raising the possibility that other types of hair cells, including inner hair cells (IHCs), may generate EEOAEs. To determine the relative contribution of IHCs and OHCs to the generation of the EEOAE, we measured the amplitude of EEOAEs, distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs), the cochlear microphonic (CM) and the compound action potential (CAP) in normal chinchillas and chinchillas with IHC lesions or IHC plus OHC lesions induced by carboplatin. Selective IHC loss had little or no effect on CM amplitude and caused a slight reduction in mean DPOAE amplitude. However, IHC loss resulted in a massive reduction in CAP amplitude. Importantly, selective IHC lesions did not reduce EEOAE amplitude, but instead, EEOAE amplitude increased at high frequencies. When both IHCs and OHCs were destroyed, the amplitude of the CM, DPOAE and EEOAE all decreased. The increase in EEOAE amplitude seen with IHC loss may be due to (1) loss of tonic efferent activity to the OHCs, (2) change in the mechanical properties of the cochlea or (3) elimination of EEOAEs produced by IHCs in phase opposition to those from OHCs.     

The functional age of hearing loss in a mouse model of presbycusis. II. Neuroanatomical correlates

This report relates patterns of age-related outer hair cell (OHC) loss to auditory behavioral deficits in C57BL/6J mice. Hair cell counts were made from serial sections of the cochlear partition in three subject groups representing young (2-3 months), middle (8-9 months), and old ages (12-13 months). The cochlear location of OHC counts was determined from three-dimensional computerized reconstructions of the serial sections. Comparisons of the topographic distribution of surviving OHCs across the subject groups confirmed an orderly base-to-apex progression of cochlear degeneration that is well known in this mouse strain. All mice appeared to follow the same progression of OHC loss, although subjects showed considerable variation in the rate at which they advanced through a uniform sequence of structural changes. Behavioral implications of the magnitude and location of OHC loss were investigated by correlating the histological status of individual mice with sound detection thresholds from the same subjects [Hear. Res. 183 (2003) 44-56]. The analysis revealed regionalized patterns of OHC loss that were correlated with frequency-dependent changes in hearing thresholds, and validates the use of 'functional age' as an indicator of age-related cochlear degeneration and dysfunction. In the absence of physiologically defined cochlear frequency maps for C57BL/6J mice, these structure-function correlation techniques offer an alternative approach for linking anatomical results to hearing abilities.     

Relation between outer hair cell loss and hearing loss in rats exposed to styrene

The relationship between outer hair cell (OHC) loss and cochlear sensitivity is still unclear, because in many animal models there exist surviving but dysfunctional OHCs and also injured/dead inner hair cells (IHC). Styrene is an ototoxic agent, which targets and destroys OHCs starting from the third row to the second and first rows depending on the exposure level. The remaining cells may be less affected. In this experiment, rats were exposed to styrene by gavage at different doses (200-800mg/kg/day) for varying periods (5 days/week for 3-12 weeks). An interesting finding was that the cochlear sensitivity was not affected in a few rats with all OHCs in the third row being destroyed by styrene. A further loss of OHCs was usually accompanied with a linear input/output (I/O) function of cochlear compound action potentials (CAP), indicating the loss of cochlear amplification. However, normal CAP amplitudes at the highest stimulation level of 90dB SPL were often observed when all OHCs were destroyed, indicating normal function of the remaining IHCs. The OHC-loss/hearing-loss relation appeared to be a sigmoid-type function. Initially, styrene-induced OHC losses (<33%) did not result in a significant threshold shift. Then CAP threshold shift increased dramatically with OHC loss from 33% to 66%. Then, CAP threshold changed less with OHC loss. The data suggest a tri-modal relationship between OHC loss and cochlear amplification. That is, under the condition that all surviving OHCs are ideally functioning, the cochlear amplifier is not affected until 33% of OHCs are absent, then the gain of the amplifier decreases proportionally with the OHC loss, and at last the amplifier may fail completely when more than 67% of OHCs are lost.     

Susceptibility of the hair cells of the newborn rat cochlea to hypoxia and ischemia

Hypoxia and ischemia are thought to be important pathogenetic factors in bringing about hearing loss. In order to study the effect of these determinants on the loss of inner and outer hair cells (IHCs/OHCs), we used an in vitro hypoxia and ischemia model of the newborn rat cochlea. The specimens of the organ of Corti were exposed either to hypoxia (10-20 mm Hg) or to normoxic glucose deprivation or to both (ischemia) in artificial perilymph for different exposure periods. The number of IHCs and OHCs was counted and the hair cell loss was compared to controls. Normoxic aglycemia did not cause significant hair cell loss as compared to controls. Hypoxia and ischemia led to hair cell loss in a dose-dependent manner, with the loss in the ischemia groups found to be markedly higher than that in the hypoxia groups. Hypoxia resulted in a mean loss of 8% OHC and of 14% IHC after an 8-h exposure. Ischemia increased the loss to 19% OHC and 39% IHC after the same exposure period of 8 h. Our findings suggest that IHCs are more susceptible to hypoxia/ischemia than OHCs.     

Neuron-specific enolase immunoreactivity in the developing mouse cochlea

Onset of neuron-specific enolase reactivity was observed on gestation day 17 in spiral ganglion cells of the basal coil, and 2 days later in cochlear inner (IHC) and outer (OHC) hair cells. IHCs and OHCs were similarly reactive up to postnatal day 7, then the reactivity began to decrease in OHCs.