Figure 11.

Ultrastructural changes in type IV fibrocytes. A. Eight hours after exposure to 116 dB in the upper basal turn, type IV fibrocytes show cytoplasmic vacuolization and cell shrinkage (arrows). B. Two weeks after exposure to 116 dB in the lower basal turn, type IV fibrocytes (e.g., at arrow) show swollen nuclei and further cytoplasmic vacuolization C and D. Eight weeks after exposure to 116 dB in the lower basal turn, some type IV fibrocytes show residual apoptotic bodies (arrows in C), shrunken remnants of cells with condensed nuclear chromatin, and open collagen clefts.