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Figure 3 | BMC Developmental Biology

Figure 3

From: Thyroid hormone increases fibroblast growth factor receptor expression and disrupts cell mechanics in the developing organ of corti

Figure 3

Hypothyroidism decreases microtubule formation and alters outer hair cell morphology. (A) Transmission electron micrographs through cochlear cross-sections at P3 show fewer bundles of microtubules (asterisks) in hypothyroid PCs. (B) Quantification indicates fewer microtubules per μm cell width at three different cell depths. (C) Horizontal sections representative of P3 PCs show homogeneous distribution of microtubules (insets) at the lumenal surface of control conditions (left). In hypothyroid conditions, representative horizontal sections show a decrease in total number of microtubules (right, arrowheads). (D) Micrographs of OHCs show that hypothyroid OHCs are shorter and wider than controls. (E) Quantification of the average OHC aspect ratio (mean ± s.e.m.) shows a statistically significant increase in hypothyroid conditions (*p-value < 0.001). Scale bar, 2 μm. OHC, outer hair cell; IHC, inner hair cell; PC, pillar cell; m, microvilli; P3, postnatal day 3.

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