Atomic force microscope (AFM). A nanomanipulator for biophysical studies of stereocilia of the cochlear hair cells

Studies of the mechanoelectrical sensor system of the hair cell bundle in the cochlea require a manipulation device that enables controlled force application and movement of individual stereocilia in the nanometer range. In our atomic force microscope (AFM) setup, the scan is directly controlled in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:HNO 2002-05, Vol.50 (5), p.464-469
Main Authors: Koitschev, A, Fink, S, Rexhausen, U, Löffler, K, Hörber, J K H, Zenner, H P, Ruppersberg, J P, Langer, M G
Format: Article
Language:ger
Subjects:
Animals
Equipment Design
Hair Cells, Auditory - anatomy & histology
Microscopy, Atomic Force - instrumentation
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Nanotechnology - instrumentation
Organ of Corti - anatomy & histology
Rats
Sensitivity and Specificity
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Summary:Studies of the mechanoelectrical sensor system of the hair cell bundle in the cochlea require a manipulation device that enables controlled force application and movement of individual stereocilia in the nanometer range. In our atomic force microscope (AFM) setup, the scan is directly controlled in an upright differential interference contrast (DIC) infrared video microscope with a water immersion objective and in the measured AFM image. Here we present studies on hair cells of the mammalian cochlea. The resulting images revealed the tips of individual stereocilia of living sensory cells of the organ of Corti and the typical shape of the ciliary bundle. Scanning electron-microscopic (SEM) images of the identical hair bundles obtained after AFM investigation demonstrated that up to four AFM manipulations on the same cell did not cause obvious damage to the surface morphology of the stereocilia.
ISSN:0017-6192