Fig. 3

Co-treatment with DMSO and cisplatin compromises hair cell morphology and kills hair cells.

Zebrafish were treated with embryo medium (control), 0.5% DMSO, two different concentrations of cisplatin (0.5 mM or 1 mM), or cisplatin (0.5 mM or 1 mM) with 0.5% DMSO. Representative images of (A) control neuromasts, (B) neuromasts exposed to 1 mM cisplatin, and (C) neuromasts exposed to 1 mM cisplatin and 0.5% DMSO. When compared to a control O2 neuromast (A), fewer hair cells were present in the O2 neuromast of a 1 mM cisplatin-treated larva (B). When cisplatin is co-incubated with 0.5% DMSO (C), even fewer hair cells remain within the neuromast. (D) When larvae were treated with 0.5% DMSO in conjunction with cisplatin, there was a significant reduction in the number of hair cells when compared to cisplatin treatment alone indicating a synergistic effect of DMSO and cisplatin. Results are the mean values ± SD. n = 1351 neuromasts for each treatment group. ***p<0.001.