[Electromechanical transduction: influence of the outer hair cells on the motion of the organ of Corti].
BACKGROUND
The somatic electromotility of the outer hair cells can be induced by an extracellular electrical field. This enables us to investigate the electromechanically induced motion of the organ of Corti.


METHODS
The electrically induced motion of the guinea-pig organ of Corti was measured with a laser Doppler vibrometer in three cochlear turns at ten radial positions on the reticular lamina (RL) and six on each of the upper and lower surfaces of the tectorial membrane (TM).


CONCLUSIONS
We found a complex vibration pattern of the RL and TM, leading to a stimulus synchronous modulation of the depth of the subtectorial space in the region of the inner hair cells (IHCs). This modulation causes radial fluid motion inside the space up to at least 3 kHz. This motion is capable of deflecting the IHC stereocilia and provides an amplification mechanism additional to that associated with basilar-membrane motion.
Nowotny
M
M
Sektion Physiologische Akustik and Kommunikation der Universitäts-HNO-Klinik, Eberhard-Karls-Universität, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Strasse 5, 72076 Tübingen.
Gummer
A W
AW
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D018072:Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D009925:Organ of Corti / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014732:Vibration