Increasing FGF concentration rescued Prox1 and increased hair cells at E12.5 + 6 DIV. A, Control E12.5 explants labeled for Gfi1, Sox2, and Prox1. B, DAPT treatment decreased prosensory formation. C, C’, FGF9(1 μg/ml) added in the presence of DAPT showed a large increase in hair cell formation. Exogenous FGF9 rescued Prox1+ cells that have not yet completed phenotypic conversion to hair cells, with variable fluorescence intensities (Inset C”).