Reversible contraction of isolated mammalian cochlear hair cells.
Outer hair cells were isolated from the guinea pig cochlea using a micromechanical non-enzymatic procedure. Depolarization of outer hair cells in the presence of 25-125 mM K+ was accompanied by a longitudinal contraction of the isolated cells. A decrease of [K+] to 5.4 mM interrupted contraction and induced a relaxation. Individual hair cells were able to undergo as many as 5 cycles of contraction and relaxation. External Ca2+ was required for relaxation of the contracted hair cells. The contractile event led to the production of a visible cytoplasmic network between the supranuclear area and the cuticular plate.
D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*
D011189:Potassium Chloride; D002118:Calcium