Figure 4. Co-localization of macrophages with hair cell debris.

Cochleae were fixed at one day after completion of streptomycin injections (see text) and immunolabeled for KUL01 (green, macrophages) and myosin VIIA (red, hair cells). Specimens contained a small number of cells that were double-labeled for both markers (arrows). Such labeling is suggestive of macrophages having phagocytosed the remains of injured hair cells. Reconstruction of confocal image stacks revealed that such cells were below the sensory epithelium (C). Scale bar = 30 µm.