β-CG increases eNOS expression, reduces oxidative damage, and maintains microstructure in the stria vascularis.

<p>(A) Representative photomicrographs of tissue immunostained for eNOS. eNOS expression in the stria vascularis of the cochlear basal turn was higher in βCG-fed mice than in the control mice (scale bar: 50 μm). (B) Representative photographs of 4-HNE staining in the SV. Expression of 4-HNE was abundant in control mice and was reduced by β-CG consumption (scale bar: 50 μm). (C) Transmission electron microscopy revealed greater numbers of lipofuscin granules in control mice (upper-left panel, arrow) than in βCG-fed mice (scale bar: 5 μm). Vacuolar degeneration in microvascular pericytes was frequent in control mice (lower-left panel, arrowheads) (scale bar: 2 μm).