Histological Changes in the Inner Ear of Senile Mice

Age-related changes in the inner ear were investigated histopathologically in senile mice. Histological changes with age were first observed after 12 months of age. In mice, loss of outer hair cells was greater than that of inner hair cells. The characteristics of aging observed in the inner ear included a diminishing number of cells in Corti's organ, stria vascularis and spiral ganglions as well as a decrease in supporting cells. However, we could not classify the age-related changes into sensory, neural, strial and/or cochlear conductive presbycusis.