Characteristics of echolocating bats' auditory stereocilia length, compared with other mammals.
The stereocilia of the Organ of Corti in 4 different echolocating bats, Myotis adversus, Murina leucogaster, Nyctalus plancyi (Nyctalus velutinus), and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum were observed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Stereocilia lengths were estimated for comparison with those of non-echolocating mammals. The specialized lengths of outer hair cells (OHC) stereocilia in echolocating bats were shorter than those of non-echolocating mammals. The specialized lengths of inner hair cells (IHC) stereocilia were longer than those of outer hair cells stereocilia in the Organ of Corti of echolocating bats. These characteristics of the auditory stereocilia length of echolocating bats represent the fine architecture of the electromotility process, helping to adapt to high frequency sound and echolocation.
Yao
Qian
Q
Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China.
Zeng
JinYao
J
Zheng
YongMei
Y
Latham
Julia
J
Liang
Bing
B
Jiang
Lei
L
Zhang
ShuYi
S
D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D002923:Cilia / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004455:Echolocation / Q000502:physiology*; D006199:Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018072:Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008322:Mammals / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009925:Organ of Corti / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013045:Species Specificity