Observations of cochlear sections by H&E stain in both groups at the end of this study.

Abbreviations: SD: standard deviation; DIO: diet-induced obesity; SV: stria vascularis; SG: spiral ganglion; SL: spiral ligament; IHC: inner hair cell; OHCs: outer hair cells.N = 30 for all observations except for the apical turn (n = 14).*Student's t-test for SV thickness, internal diameter of vessels in SV, and vessel wall to radius ratio in SV. Wilcoxon rank-sum test for other items.