Fig. 2.

UCP2 overexpression notably aggravates hearing loss. A The AAV-ie vectors are infected through the PSC. B Representative merged images of cochlear basilar membrane in the different groups. IHCs were labeled with anti-Myosin VIIa (red). C Representative western blots for UCP2 protein (n = 3 independent experiments). D The relative expression of UCP2 protein. E The mean ABR thresholds at four tested frequencies (n = 12 ears/group). F The mean ABR wave I amplitudes at all tested frequencies (n = 12 ears/group). UCP2, uncoupling protein 2; IHCs, inner hair cells; PSC, posterior semicircular canal; ABR, auditory brainstem response; OHCs, outer hair cells. n.s., no significance, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01