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. 2022 Sep 20;15:973646. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.973646

FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 4

Light microscopy and confocal microscopy of the apical turn of the human cochlea at the frequency region 125–250 Hz. (A) A semi-thin section shows the stria vascularis (SV) and the relatively thin spiral ligament containing four different types of fibrocytes (I-IV). There is no suprastrial connective tissue layer containing type V fibrocytes. A thin layer of basal cells can be seen next to the type I fibrocytes. Type II fibrocytes lie beneath the spiral prominence (SP) epithelium. (B) Distribution of GJB2 gene transcripts in the lateral wall. GJB2 gene transcripts are concentrated at the basal cell (BC) region, while the marginal cells show no gene transcripts. A few red puncta can be observed at the intermediate cells. Gene transcripts are located in type I fibrocytes. Framed areas are shown in higher magnification in (C,D). (C) Expression of GJB2 at the angle between the Reissner’s membrane (RM) and SV. There are no transcripts in RM. (D) Enlargement of the angle between the SV with transcript-containing basal cells reaching the SP epithelium (arrow). IHCs, inner hair cells; OHCs, outer hair cells; TM, tectorial membrane; Limbus, spiral limbus.