Figure 5

Surviving neuromast hair cells after cisplatin treatment demonstrate impaired mechanotransduction. (A–C) Maximum-intensity projections of confocal images show wildtype zebrafish neuromasts after 2 h treatment with 0.1% DMSO (A), 250 µM cisplatin (B), and 1 mM cisplatin (C) followed by a 24 h recovery in EM. Dotted circles exemplify 4 µm region of interest used to measure mean FM1-43 intensity. Arrow indicates non-viable hair cell that was not included in analysis (B). Mean hair cell FM1-43 intensity (normalized to control) demonstrates decreased mechanotransduction among cisplatin-treated fish compared to those exposed to vehicle control ((D), **** p < 0.0001, Kruskal–Wallis test). Post hoc analysis with Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test failed to detect significant changes in FM1-43 uptake between moderate and high dose cisplatin ((D), ns > 0.9999). Cisplatin demonstrates a dose-dependent increase in hair cell loss ((E), **** p < 0.0001, ** p = 0.0069; Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test). Median values with corresponding 95% confidence intervals shown for both FM1-43 uptake and hair cell counts. n = 3–4 fish (2–3 neuromasts per fish). N = 3 trials.