Figure 8.

Cx26 expression pattern in the sensory epithelium of Panx1+/+ (i.e., WT) and Panx1−/− cochleae from P5 mice. (A) Confocal through-focus sequence (z-stack) acquired at 0.5 μm increments showing Cx26 expression detected with a selective antibody (green) in epithelial cells of the LER counterstained with phalloidin (red); scale bars: 10 μm. (B) Representative transversal sections of the organ of Corti. Shown are maximal projection rendering of three consecutive midmodiolar confocal optical sections taken at 0.5 μm intervals in the medial cochlear turn; nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue). IHC, inner hair cells; OHCs, outer hair cells; DCs, Deiters’ cells; LER, lesser epithelial ridge; greater epithelial ridge (GER) greater epithelial ridge; PCs, Pillar cells; scale bars: 20 μm.