Cell proliferation in spiral ligament of mouse cochlea damaged by dihydrostreptomycin sulfate

Cell proliferation of the spiral ligament in the normal and drug-induced da maged mice cochleae was investigated using the mitotic tracer bromodeoxyuri dine (BrdU). Only a few nuclei labelled by BrdU were seen in the spiral lig ament of the control mouse. However, many BrdU labelled nuclei in the spira l ligament in the cochlea damaged by dihydrostreptomycin sulfate were found . The expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor and connexin 43 was d etected in the spiral ligament where BrdU labelled cells were found. These results suggest that cell proliferation in the spiral ligament may occur af ter the drug-induced damage, and this process is probably related to the re covery of cochlear function.