Mammalian Cochlear Hair Cell Imaging Using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): A Preliminary Study

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using optical coherence tomography (OCT) to provide information about cochlear microanatomy at a cellular level, specifically of cochlear hair cells in mammals. Materials and methods: A total of 10 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 2 experimental groups for comparing the arrangement of normal and damaged hair cells. Postnatal day 3 Sprague-Dawley rats were used to test the swept-source OCT system, and the images recorded were compared with fluorescence microscope images. Results: Intracochlear structures (the inner hair cells, outer hair cells, and auditory nerve fibers) were clearly visualized at the individual cellular ...
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Pusan National University