The cochleas and brain stems of normal-hearing CBA/CaJ and CaH mice ranging in age from 1 to 18 months were examined by light microscopy to document normal age-related changes. At all ages examined, the cochlear morphologic structure appeared normal with no obvious loss of hair cells or spiral ganglion cells. In the cochlear nucleus, qualitative and quantitative changes were observed in the total nuclear volume, in globular cell size, and in neuronal packing density.
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