Studies on the sensory hairs of receptor cells in the inner ear.
The crista ampullaris of the semicircular canal in the frog can be isolated and mounted in a chamber so that the sensory hairs can be observed under high magnification in interference-contrast. The cupula is removed and the sensory hairs can be manipulated and their mechanical properties investigated by a microprobe held in a micromanipulator. The hairs appear quite stiff and pivot around their base. When subjected to force they break as if they are brittle. All the cilia within a bundle move together as if joined to one another. Labelling for electron-microscopy with polycationic ferritin reveals that the membrane surrounding the cilia has a surface coat of negatively charged molecules. When the organ is incubated with polycationic ferritin before fixation the sensory hairs agglutinate. Fusion of the membrane surrounding individual sensory hairs also occurs.
D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002923:Cilia / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000494:pharmacology; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000648:ultrastructure
D005839:Gentamicins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols