Stereocilia displacement induced somatic motility of cochlear outer hair cells

Burt N. Evans*, Peter Dallos

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

69 Scopus citations

Abstract

Outer hair cells, isolated from mammalian cochleas, are known to respond to electrical stimulation with elongation or contraction of the cell's cylindrical soma. It is assumed that such shape changes, when driven by the cell's receptor potential in vivo, are a part of the feedback process that underlies cochlear amplification. To date it has not been possible to demonstrate somatic shape changes upon normal mechanical stimulation of the cell - i.e., the deflection of its hair bundle. We show here that mechanically induced hair-bundle deflection produces somatic motility of the cell. Such motility is dependent upon a functioning forward transducer process and disappears upon interference with transduction. The motile response also reflects the hair bundle's known directional sensitivity. This demonstration of mechanically driven motility indicates that the cell may possess capabilities to affect its mechanical environment under control of its own receptor potential and, thereby, participate in a local cochlear feedback process.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)8347-8351
Number of pages5
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume90
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 15 1993

Funding

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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