Cochlear hair cell densities and inner-ear staining techniques

The past decade has witnessed an explosive growth in the number of new strains of mice available for scientific study, as is evident throughout this book. The introduction of new strains and phenotypes and the eventual sequencing of the mouse genome will allow auditory neuroscientists to understand how different genes influence the structure and function of the inner ear (Fritzsch et al., 1997b; Lanford et al., 1999; Lewis et al., 1998). Studies of different strains and phenotypes will undoubtedly provide important clues about the genetic factors that influence an individual’s susceptibility to presbycusis, ototoxicity, and noise-induced hearing loss (Erway and Willott, 1996; McFadden et al., 1999; Richardson et al., 1997).