Evoked Mechanical Responses of Isolated Cochlear Outer Hair Cells

Intracellular current administration evokes rapid, graded, and bidirectional mechanical responses of isolated outer hair cells from the mammalian inner ear. The cells become shorter in response to depolarizing and longer in response to hyperpolarizing currents in the synaptic end of the cell. The ce...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1985-01, Vol.227 (4683), p.194-196
Main Authors: Brownell, William E., Bader, Charles R., Bertrand, Daniel, De Ribaupierre, Yves
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acetylcholine - pharmacology
Alternating current
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Cell membranes
Cell nucleus
Cochlea
Ear
Ear and associated structures. Auditory pathways and centers. Hearing. Vocal organ. Phonation. Sound production. Echolocation
Electric current
Electric Stimulation
Electrodes
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Guinea Pigs
Hair Cells, Auditory - cytology
Hair Cells, Auditory - drug effects
Hair Cells, Auditory - physiology
Hair follicles
Hearing
Inner hair cells
Ionophores
Membrane potential
Membrane Potentials
Organ of corti
Outer hair cells
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
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Summary:Intracellular current administration evokes rapid, graded, and bidirectional mechanical responses of isolated outer hair cells from the mammalian inner ear. The cells become shorter in response to depolarizing and longer in response to hyperpolarizing currents in the synaptic end of the cell. The cells respond with either an increase or decrease in length to transcellular alternating current stimulation. The direction of the movement with transcellular stimuli appears to be frequency dependent. Iontophoretic application of acetylcholine to the synaptic end of the cell decreases its length. The microarchitecture of the organ of Corti permits length changes of outer hair cells in a manner that could significantly influence the mechanics of the cochlear partition and thereby contribute to the exquisite sensitivity of mammalian hearing.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.3966153