Axiovision 4.1 microscope

All sections were digitally examined using Zeiss AxioVision 4.1 microscope software coupled to an AxioCam HRc color camera and an AxioPlan2 microscope (Zeiss, Jena, Germany).
The in situ probe localized sections were analyzed at ×20 magnification utilizing a TissueFaxs Plus System coupled onto a Zeiss ® Axio Imager Z2 Microscope. Analyzed sections were then acquired using the TissueFaxs (TissueGnostics ® , Vienna, Austria). The intensity of the BDNF probes localized on the sections was then evaluated using HistoQuest ® (TissueGnostics) software. Utilization of this software allows for an objective evaluation of the localized probes and is advantageous over a subjective assessment by the investigator. Nine fetal inner ears of different gestational ages were utilized for the BDNF mRNA quantification study. A list of the specimens and sections used is included in Table 3.

All sections were imaged using a Zeiss AxioVision 4.1 microscope software coupled to an AxioCam HRc color camera and an AxioPlan2 microscope (Zeiss, Jena, Germany). The immune-stained sections were analyzed at × 20 magnification utilizing a TissueFaxs Plus System coupled onto a Zeiss® Axio Imager Z2 Microscope (Jena, Germany). Analyzed sections were then acquired using the TissueFaxs (TissueGnostics®, Vienna, Austria).