Figure 6.

Identification and quantification of Hensen’s cells. (A) A surface view of the organ of Corti stained for actin in a normal cochlea. (B) A surface view of actin staining showing Hensen’s cells in the cochlear region with preserved phalangeal scars in the reticular lamina from a cyclodextrin-treated cochlea. Hensen’s cells are present. (C) A 3D view of the organ of Corti stained for galectin-3, actin, and DAPI in a normal ear. Hensen’s cells are clearly identified. (D) Galectin-3 immunoreactivity is present primarily in Hensen’s cells, whereas hair cells, Claudius’ cells, and Deiters’ cells lack galectin-3 immunoreactivity. Scale bars = 20 µm. (E) Comparison of the average number of Hensen’s cells per 300 µm across three regions along the cochlear spiral in normal control cochleae. Cell counts are comparable between the apical and middle regions, with slightly, but statistically significant, higher numbers in the basal region compared to the apical. (F) Comparison of the average Hensen’s cell count between control and cyclodextrin-treated ears across the same three cochlear regions. In cyclodextrin-treated cochleae, there is a significant reduction in the number of Hensen’s cells at the middle and basal regions of the cochlea (45–85% and 85–100% distance from the apex). A slight, but not statistically significant, reduction is observed in the apical regions (0–45% distance from the apex). Each dot represents the number of Hensen’s cells in a single confocal image. * indicates p < 0.05 and **** indicates p < 0.0001.