Figure 1.

Direct infusion of zVAD into the vestibule promotes hair cell survival after concurrent treatment with streptomycin sulfate. A, Photomicrograph of hair cells stained for calretinin immunohistochemistry after treatment with 100 μm zVAD and 5 d of streptomycin (1200 mg/kg). B, Photomicrograph of calretinin-labeled hair cells after treatment with the carrier and streptomycin. C, Mean hair cell counts (±SEM) for the striolar and extrastriolar regions of the utricle after treatment with saline, streptomycin alone, carrier plus streptomycin, or 50 and 100 μm zVAD and streptomycin treatment. D, Mean hair cell counts for control, saline, carrier alone, 50 μm zVAD alone, or 100 μm zVAD alone treated animals. Calretinin-labeled cells were quantified in 10,000 μm ² regions of both the extrastriolar (6 regions per organ) and striolar (4 regions per organ) areas. n = 6–8 organs.