Figure 6.

Atraumatic siRNA delivery of siRNAs to the mouse inner ear. (A) 1 μL of fluorescently conjugated siRNA (siGLO) was manually delivered into the middle ear, through the tympanic bulla (Bulla) or directly to the inner ear through the posterior semicircular canalostomy (Canal). (B) Auditory threshold shift measured by unilateral auditory brainstem response (ABR), recorded from contralateral [Ctrl] and operated [siRNA] ears (n = 12) 3 days after surgery. (C,D) Cytocochleograms showing siGLO diffusion (green) to the sensory epithelium (inner and outer hair cells) (C) and spiral ganglia (auditory neurons) (D) following canalostomy. (E,F) Cytocochleograms showing siGLO diffusion (green) to the sensory epithelium (inner and outer hair cells) (E) and spiral ganglia (auditory neurons) (F) following bullostomy. (C,E) Myo7a was used as hair cell marker (red), and DAPI (blue) was used for nuclear staining. (D,F) B-III Tubulin was used as neuron marker (purple). (F) Postsurgical weight evolution of operated animals was monitored up to up to day 7.