Immunofluorescence depicting outer hair cell death and Cochleogram of outer hair cell loss.

<p>A–C) Although the stereocilia bundles were disorganized at the apical turn of the cochlea, the hair cell bodies were intact. D–F) Loss of cell bodies and stereocilia at the cuticular plate was observed at the middle turn. G–I) The loss of hair cells and stereocilia was most pronounced at the basal turn. G) Some bundles and the cuticular plate disappeared, and stereocilia of inner hair cells fused into giant stereocilia. J) Cell loss after exposure to 20 μg/mL tumor necrosis factor-α for 8 d was greatest in the middle and basal turn region. Approximately 40% loss of outer hair cells was counted in the middle and basal turn region. Labeling: phalloidin, stereocilia bundles; myosin 7a, cell bodies; DAPI, nuclei. Scale bar: 50 μm.