Fig. 2.

Outer hair cell stereocilia morphology at position 80% (near apex; A, C, E and G) and 30% (near base; B, D, F and H) of the length along the cochlear duct (P4) by scanning electron microscopy showed developmentally immature morphology of hair bundles in the mutants. (G and H) Diminuendo homozygotes showed the most affected hair bundles, with a rounded, almost circular shape and extra stereocilia rows. (C and D) Diminuendo heterozygotes resemble (E and F) Ptprq-CAT-KO homozygotes, being less affected but still showing differences compared to (A and B) wildtypes, such as the gently rounded hair bundle and excess microvilli. Scale bar, 1.5 μm.