Skip to main content
Fig. 7 | BMC Medicine

Fig. 7

From: A combined genome-wide association and molecular study of age-related hearing loss in H. sapiens

Fig. 7

Expression pattern of PTK2/FAK in the human cochlea. A FAK expression was observed in both afferent and efferent neurons that innervate the hair cells. Actin was also present in the hair cell stereocilia and cuticular plates. The outer hair cells are highlighted with broken lines. B Low-power confocal image shows FAK staining of basal tunnel fibers and the tunnel spiral bundle. Actin-positive areas of the head and foot regions of the pillar cells are shown. Pillar cells contain invaginated afferent neurons (basal tunnel fibers) that innervate the outer hair cells. The inner hair cell and pillar cells are highlighted with broken lines. C Expression of FAK was present in the cytoplasm of spiral ganglion cells. D–F False color imaging reveals a gradient expression of FAK from the cochlear base to the apex. High expression intensity was observed in the cochlear base (D), which gradually decreases in neurons that supply the second (E) and third cochlear turns (F). OHCs = outer hair cells, T1 = type I spiral ganglion cells, or alternatively, large spiral ganglion cells. DC = Deiters cells, OPC = outer pillar cells, BTF = basal tunnel fibers, TSB = tunnel spiral bundles, HC = Hensen cells, OSBs = outer spiral bundles, IHC = inner hair cell

Back to article page