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 level.CONCLUSION: These images reflect the ability of OCT to provide images of the inner hair cells, outer hair cells, and auditory nerve fibers (ex vivo). OCT is a promising technology, and these findings could be used to encourage research in the area of cochlear microstructure imaging in the future.