Figure 1.

Treatment of ototoxin-damaged vestibules with GF I results in a significant increase in the renewal of vestibular hair cells. (A and B) Scanning electron micrographs of utricular maculae at 9 weeks post-gentamicin exposure. The vestibule in A received no further treatment after gentamicin exposure, whereas the vestibule in B received infusion of GF I for 1 month (i.e., weeks 1–5). When A is compared with B it is evident that treatment with GF I resulted in increased density of vestibular HCs in the macula of the utricle. (C) The quantification of HC renewal in ototoxin-damaged, untreated, and GF I-treated vestibules. [Bars denote ±SEM; asterisks, P < 0.001; 5 weeks (n = 6), 9 weeks (n = 3); scale bars = 100 μm.]