Figure 3.

MIF knockdown in young mice leads to hearing loss (A) MIF was knocked down in young mice and the transfection efficiency was determined by the western blotting. (B) The average threshold of the MIF knockdown group was maintained at a significant lower level than the control group in the ABR test. The in vivo siRNA transfection was performed in young mice as described previously (12,19). MIF was silenced with a 5-µl solution of siRNA (20 ng/µl) injected through the posterior-inferior quadrant (n=3 mice per group). Scrambled siRNA of the same concentration was given to control group (n=3 mice per group). At 8 days after the in vivo siRNA transfection, the transfection efficiency was determined and used for ABR tests. *P<0.5 vs. the Scramble group. MIF, migration inhibitory factor; ABR, auditory brain stem response.