Motile responses of isolated guinea pig vestibular hair cells.
Vestibular hair cells were isolated from the guinea pig vestibule by a micromechanical non-enzymatic procedure. Perfusion with 125 mM K+ solution induced irreversible slow shortening of the necks in 42.8% of the hair cells tested. Mechanical stimulation, creating a displacement of the hair bundle towards the kinocilium, induced either irreversible coiling or tilting of the neck of the cells, or reversible fast tilting of the cuticular plate (44.5% of tested cells). The response to the Ca2+ antagonist, Flunarizine, suggested that these movements were calcium-dependent. We propose several explanations of the physiological role of these mechanisms and discuss the possibility that fast tilting of the cuticular plate is a physiological movement involving the hair cells at the periphery of the vestibular receptors. The regulation of the vestibular message at the apex of type I hair cells is also considered.
Valat
J
J
INSERM U-254, Laboratoires de Neurophysiologie Sensorielle et de Neurophysiologie Cellulaire, U.S.T.L., Montpellier, France.
Griguer
C
C
Lehouelleur
J
J
Sans
A
A
D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006168:Guinea Pigs / Q000502:physiology*; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology
D011188:Potassium