Altered tectorial membrane development and outer hair cell physiology in an α‐tectorintransgenic mouse

Figure 5. Increased presti n expression in OHCs from mutant mice. (A) Prestin immunolabeling demonstrated higher fluorescence intensity within the lateral wall of OHCs in heterozygous and homozygous mice compared to wild-type mice. Each OHC row is labeled (1, 2, 3). All images were taken from the mid-basal turn. Scale bar is 8 μ m. (B) Quantification of prestin immunofluorescence intensity within the OHC lateral wall demonstrated statistically significant increases in heterozygous and homozygous OHCs relative to wild-type OHCs. (C) Comparison of the fluorescence intensity between OHCs of different rows did not reveal differences (ANOVA p>0.05 for each genotype). (D) Western blot demonstrated an increase in prestin in cochleae from heterozygous and homozygous mice compared to cochleae from wild-type mice. Myosin VIIa levels from the same blot were qualitatively similar. (E) Quantitative RTPCR analyses demonstrated elevated prestin transcript levels in both heterozygous and homozygous mice. Wildtype, +/+; heterozygous, +/Gly; homozygous, Gly/Gly. Model