Actin, myosin and alpha-actinin containing filament bundles in hyaline cells of the caiman cochlea.
Hyaline cells of the auditory organ of the spectacled caiman contain smooth muscle-like filament bundles within their basal cell pole. These bundles were heavily labeled with antibodies to actin, myosin and alpha-actinin (muscular Z-line protein). Since hyaline cells are firmly attached to the basilar membrane these cells may actively modify the stiffness of the basilar membrane. A contractile mechanism in hyaline cells might affect frequency tuning of primary auditory afferents. This frequency tuning has been shown to be a temperature-dependent process in caimans and other submammalian species. The presence of synaptic contacts between efferent nerve fibres and hyaline cells suggests neural control of hyaline cell activity.
Drenckhahn
D
D
Anatomisches Institut, Julius-Maximilians-Universität, Würzburg, F.R.G.
Merte
C
C
von Düring
M
M
Smolders
J
J
Klinke
R
R
D000185:Actinin / Q000378:metabolism; D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000489:Alligators and Crocodiles / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001489:Basilar Membrane / Q000166:cytology / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism; D003051:Cochlea / Q000166:cytology / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism*; D003285:Contractile Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006818:Hyalin / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D009218:Myosins / Q000378:metabolism
D000199:Actins; D003285:Contractile Proteins; D000185:Actinin; D009218:Myosins