Fig. 3

Sox2 overexpression alleviated noise-induced hearing loss and HC damage. A Experimental protocol for B–F. Adult PrestinCreER^+/–/Sox2OE^+/– and control mice that received tamoxifen at P 21–22 were exposed to 116 dB broadband noise for 2 h. Cochlear morphology and hearing function were evaluated 7 days after noise exposure. B Representative images of Myosin7a⁺ cells in PrestinCreER^+/–/Sox2OE^+/– and control mice treated with or without noise exposure. C, D Cochleograms showed noise-induced loss of IHCs and OHCs in the PrestinCreER^+/–/Sox2OE^+/– and control groups. E, F Pure-tone ABR thresholds and threshold shifts in the PrestinCreER^+/–/Sox2OE^+/– and control group 7 days after the noise exposure. Scale bar = 20 µm. Data are presented as means ± SEM; n = 6 for each group; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, indicated the significant difference between the PrestinCreER^+/–/Sox2OE^+/– with noise treatment and the PrestinCreER^+/–/Sox2OE^–/– with noise treatment groups