Ultrastructural studies of stereocilia in noise-exposed rabbits

In rabbits with noise-induced, permanent hearing loss of more than 20 dB the stereocilia of the inner hair cells (IHCs) showed widespread signs of damage: fracturing, folding, fusion, and formation of giant hairs. Damage to the stereocilia on outer hair cells (OHCs) was much less pronounced in corresponding regions. On damaged OHCs the stereocilia were usually missing, except in the apical turn where fusion of stereocilia and formation of giant stereocilia occurred. On both IHCs and OHCs the 'neck' of the stereocilium appeared to be a site of fracture of the actin skeleton. On IHCs the actin cores of the former stereocilia were enclosed in a bulge of the apical cytoplasm to form a giant hair, with portions of the stereocilia projecting from the bulge. Inside the giant hairs profiles of the original stereocilia could be recognized, and these often retained their original circular form at least at the base of a giant hair. In the distal portion of the giant hair the actin filaments frequently formed a single thick bundle where the individual stereocilia could not be distinguished. Material had condensed between the surface membrane enclosing the former stereocilia and the actin cores. A thin kinocilium was often identified on IHCs. together with giant hairs possibly indicating a regenerative activation of the cell. It is suggested that fracture and fusion of stereocilia are due to different pathophysiological mechanisms, and that the actin of damaged cilia may undergo a slow reorganization and regeneration.