Charge Displacement Induced by Rapid Stretch in the Basolateral Membrane of the Guinea-Pig Outer Hair Cell

• Published in: Proceedings of the Royal Society. B, Biological sciences Biological sciences, 1994-03, Vol.255 (1344), p.243-249
• Main Authors: Gale, J. E., Ashmore, Jonathan Felix
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amplifiers; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Capacitance; Cell Membrane - physiology; Cell membranes; Cochlea; Ear and associated structures. Auditory pathways and centers. Hearing. Vocal organ. Phonation. Sound production. Echolocation; Electric Conductivity - physiology; Electric current; Electric potential; Electric Stimulation - methods; Electrophysiology - methods; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Guinea Pigs; Hair cells; Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer - physiology; In Vitro Techniques; Mathematics; Membrane Potentials - physiology; Models, Neurological; Outer hair cells; Pipettes; Resistance movements; Stress, Mechanical; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
• ISSN: 0962-8452; 1471-2954
• DOI: 10.1098/rspb.1994.0035

The properties of the basolateral membrane of cochlear outer hair cells were studied under whole-cell patch clamp to measure currents and capacitance changes associated with mechanical deformation. Stretching the membrane of outer hair cells along the cell axis generated a transient inward current, and subsequent relaxation of the membrane produced a similar transient outward current. These mechanically activated currents were velocity dependent with a mean sensitivity of 29 pA s mm-1. Unlike ionic currents, these currents did not reverse, but reached a peak magnitude at —33 mV. Stretching the cell also resulted in a measurable capacitance decrease of 0.3—1.1 pF μm-1. These results suggest that membrane stretch can induce a rapid charge movement resulting from the reversal of the electromechanical transduction process in outer hair cells.