High resolution SEM images showing stereocilia bundles on outer (A–C, G–N) and inner (D–F) hair cells of wild type (A, D, G, H, K and L), Tlc/+ (B, E, I, M) and Tlc/Tlc (C, F, J and N) mice at P21 (G–J) and P7 (K–N). Note misshaped but staircase-like stereocilia bundles on hair cells of Tlc/+ animals (B and E) and disorganized bundles formed from fewer stereocilia of Tlc/Tlc mice (C and F). The horizontal connectors, tip links (G–J, tip links indicated by arrowheads, horizontal connectors indicated by arrows, inset on J shows high magnification image of tip link found between Tlc/Tlc stereocilia), lateral and ankle links (K–N, lateral links indicated by arrows, ankle links indicated by arrowheads) are present between Tlc/+ and Tlc/Tlc stereocilia and are indistinguishable from those of wild type mice. Scale bars: A–F-2 µm; G, H, K, L, N–200 nm; I, J and M–500 nm.