Morphological transformation of hair cells in the chick basilar papilla following an acoustic overstimulation.

The anatomical damage occurring to the chick basilar papilla following an exposure to a 125 dB SPL pure tone has been studied using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. By combining these two techniques it was possible to describe in detail certain types of damage occurring to hair cells at the periphery of the traumatized area. Abnormalities such as (1) hair cells with a 'giant' apical surface, or (2) with a small apical surface, or (3) without a cuticular plate probably represent stages of hair cell dedifferentiation.