Figure 8.

Model of SC phagocytic activity following HC death. (a) The architecture of a normal utricle includes SCs surrounding a healthy HC (surface view in top panel, orthogonal view in bottom panel). (b) Following treatment with aminoglycoside antibiotics, SCs constrict the HC beneath the cuticular plate (yellow arrowheads). Loss of tdTomato from the HC indicates loss of HC membrane integrity and death. (c) SC constriction results in excision of the stereocilia bundle and cuticular plate from the HC. SCs extend processes to form a phagosome around the remains of the dead HC. (d) In the final stage of the process, the HC corpse has been removed and the SCs have formed a scar at the reticular lamina