Toadfish saccular hair cell bundle has a preferred orientation in the otolithic membrane.
The macula of the saccule of the toadfish, Opsanus tau, is covered by an otolithic membrane containing sockets into which the stereocilia and kinocilia of the hair cells project. We have found that the hair cell bundle has a distinct eccentric orientation within this space of the otolithic socket. Although the sockets of the otolithic membrane are irregular in shape, all kinocilia are located closet to the same border of the sockets. Since the socket is a fluid or gel filled space through which the hair cell bundle moves, this orientation may have some significance for transduction since it leaves a larger space in the on direction for stereociliary movement.
Steinacker
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A
Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.
Menton
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DN
Romero
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D000818:Animals; D005399:Fishes / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012444:Saccule and Utricle / Q000648:ultrastructure*