Gross morphology of the cochlea isolated by microdissection.

<p><b>A–C</b>) Overview images of cochleae from a Tg(−);<i>Slc26a4</i>^Δ/Δ, Tg(+);<i>Slc26a4</i>^Δ/Δ and Tg(+);<i>Slc26a4</i>^Δ/+ mice. The width of the lower cochlear turn is marked with arrows and the round (RW) and oval window (OW) are labeled. A region with apparently thinner bone is marked (*). <b>D–F</b>) Enlarged view of the oval window. Normal otoconia in the saccule that reflect the light and appear bright white were seen in Tg(+);<i>Slc26a4</i>^Δ/Δ and Tg(+);<i>Slc26a4</i>^Δ/+ mice but not in Tg(−);<i>Slc26a4</i>^Δ/Δ (<i>arrow</i>). The number of mice represented by these images is 1 for <b>A</b> and <b>D</b>, and 3 pairs for images <b>B</b> & <b>C</b> and <b>E</b> & <b>F</b>.