Document Detail


Basilar membrane velocity in a cochlea with a modified organ of Corti.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21320429     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Many cochlear models assign zero longitudinal coupling in the cochlea. Although this is consistent with the transverse basilar membrane (BM) fibers, the cochlear partition contains cellular longitudinal coupling. In cochlear models, longitudinal coupling diminishes passive BM tuning; however, it has recently been employed in theories of active mechanics to enhance tuning. Our goal in this study was to probe passive longitudinal coupling by comparing BM responses in damaged cochleae with passive responses in normal cochleae. The cochleae of gerbils were damaged with intratympanic neomycin followed by a waiting period to ensure that all of the cells of the partition were missing or severely disrupted. We then measured BM motion and examined the cochleae histologically. In comparison with passive responses in normal cochleae, we observed a downward shift in characteristic frequency, an expected consequence of reduced stiffness from cellular damage. However, we did not observe enhanced passive tuning in the damaged cochleae, as would be expected if longitudinal coupling were substantially greater in the normal cochleae. Thus, we conclude that cell-based longitudinal coupling is not large enough to influence passive cochlear mechanics. This finding constrains theories of active mechanics.
Authors:
N Eze; E S Olson
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Biophysical journal     Volume:  100     ISSN:  1542-0086     ISO Abbreviation:  Biophys. J.     Publication Date:  2011 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-02-15     Completed Date:  2011-04-11     Revised Date:  2012-02-16    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0370626     Medline TA:  Biophys J     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  858-67     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Copyright © 2011 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, St. George's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Action Potentials / physiology
Animals
Basilar Membrane / physiopathology*
Biomechanics / physiology
Gerbillinae
Neomycin
Organ of Corti / pathology,  physiopathology*
Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous / physiology
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
R01 DC003130-18/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS; R01DC003130/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
1404-04-2/Neomycin

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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