Fig. 8.

a A capsule containing clusters of NTCells prior to implantation. The capsules were spherically shaped with a diameter of 600 to 660 μm (scale bar = 100 μm). A number of clusters of NTCells are suspended inside the fluid-filled capsule. b The capsules were implanted into the scala tympani (ST) and were in close proximity to the spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) and peripheral processes within the osseous spiral lamina (OSL) in the upper basal turn. Although the capsules were distorted during histological processing (arrow), there was minimal tissue response to the implanted capsules (scale bar = 500 μm). c An immunohistological image showing a cluster of NTCells within a capsule (white dotted line). There was positive staining for DAPI (*blue) and for mitochondria using cytochrome C oxidase (green), providing evidence that NTCells were alive and metabolically active at the conclusion of the treatment period. Note the presence of what is presumed to be a fibroblast on the outside of the capsule (arrow) indicative of a limited tissue response to the capsules (scale bar = 10 μm). SM = scala media; SV = scala vestibuli