[Isolation of cochlear inner hair cells from guinea pigs by trypsin].
OBJECTIVE
To obtain isolated inner hair cells from guinea pigs by trypsin digestion and mechanical trituration.


METHODS
The guinea pig was decapitated and the temporal bone was quickly removed. Then the lateral wall of the cochlea was removed. The organ of Corti was dissected out under a dissection microscope. Single hair cells were obtained by digestion with trypsin and gentle mechanical trituration.


RESULTS
The isolated inner hair cells were observed under inverse microscope. Five to twenty single outer hair cells were obtained from each ear and most of them could survive for about 5 hours.


CONCLUSIONS
This technique can provide sufficient numbers of solitary inner hair cells for studies on the electrophysiological properties of the cells.
Tang
Yuedi
Y
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Yuan
Shulan
S
Liu
Shixi
S
D000818:Animals; D002469:Cell Separation; D003051:Cochlea / Q000502:physiology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006199:Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D009925:Organ of Corti / Q000502:physiology; D014357:Trypsin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014357:Trypsin