FIGURE 6.

Mutant cochlin induces hearing loss and histological changes in the cochlea. WT and mutant G90E (Mut) cochlins were transiently expressed in HEK293T cells. Special culture medium without fetal bovine serum and antibiotics (CM) was collected and concentrated and then injected into the cochleae of adult C57BL/6 mice (n = 4), and the ABR thresholds were measured 1 and 4 weeks after injection (A). The thickness of the stria vascularis (Stv) was measured in hematoxylin/eosin-stained mouse inner ears (B). The morphological changes in mouse cochleae injected with WT CM (C) and mutant G90E cochlin (D) collected at 4 weeks after injection are shown (*, p < 0.05, t test), with arrows pointing to the stria vascularis. Four different types of fibrocytes affected by injection of G90E CM are clearly observed in the spiral ligament (SPL) but not in the spiral limbus (E).