Figure 1. Prestin-CreER^T2 mice (+/+) exhibit a reduced hearing sensitivity.

A Comparison of the ABR thresholds of Prestin-CreER^T2 homozygotes (+/+), heterozygotes (+/-) and wild-type mice at the four tested frequencies. The homozygous mice exhibit elevated thresholds compared with the wild-type mice (two-way ANOVA, F_1,384 = 121.0, P<0.001; *** indicates P<0.001 tested by Tukey test). B Comparison of the thresholds of DPOAEs between the Prestin-CreER^T2 homozygous mice and wild-type mice for the two tested frequencies (F₂ = 8 and 16 kHz). The homozygous mice show elevated thresholds compared with the wild-type mice (Two-way ANOVA, F_1,70 = 17.2, P<0.001; ** indicates P<0.01 tested by Tukey test). C and D The comparisons of the input/output functions of the DPOAE between the Prestin-CreER^T2 homozygous mice and wild-type mice at the two tested frequencies: F₂ = 8 kHz and F₂ = 16 kHz. The homozygous mice display the reduced amplitudes of DPOAE at both tested frequencies compared with those observed in the wild-type mice. These results suggest that Prestin-CreER^T2 knockin affects cochlear function by interfering with OHC function. n: the number of the cochleae used for each group.