Figure 1.

Light micrographs of mid-modiolar cochlear sections from pigmented kittens (pk, left column) and deaf white kittens (dwk, right column). At day 0 (top row), the cochleae of white and pigmented kittens are similar in appearance. Reissner's membrane and inner and outer hair cells (inset) are intact. At postnatal day 5 (middle row), the first sign of cochlear degeneration is seen in white kittens as Reissner's membrane begins its collapse onto the tectorial membrane (arrow). By postnatal day 10 (bottom row), Reissner's membrane has fallen completely, obliterating the scala media and destroying the organ of Corti. Hair cells are no longer distinguishable in the damaged organ of Corti (inset). Scale bar equals 100 μm and 50 μm in the inset.