Tuned phasic and tonic motile responses of isolated outer hair cells to direct mechanical stimulation of the cell body

Mechanoelectrical transduction by hair cells commences with hair-bundle deflection, which is postulated to tense filamentous tip links connected to transduction channels. Because direct mechanical stimulation of tip links has not been experimentally possible, this hypothesis has not been tested. We have engineered DNA tethers that link superparamagnetic beads to tip links and exert mechanical forces on the links when exposed to a magnetic-field gradient. By pulling directly on tip links of the bullfrog's sacculus we have evoked transduction currents from hair cells, confirming the hypothesis that tension in the tip links opens transduction channels. This demonstration of direct mechanical access to tip links additionally lays a foundation for experiments probing the mechanics of individual channels.

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Modeling of mechanical stimulation of hair cells in otolithic organs

Advances in Space Research ◽

10.1016/j.asr.2005.07.050 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 38 (6) ◽

pp. 1052-1056 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A.V. Kondrachuk

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Stimulation ◽

Hair Cells ◽

Stimulation Of

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Rapid mechanical stimulation of inner-ear hair cells by photonic pressure.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.740434745.793588472 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yongli Zhang ◽

Avinash Kumar

Keyword(s):

Inner Ear ◽

Mechanical Stimulation ◽

Hair Cells ◽

Stimulation Of

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Author response: Direct mechanical stimulation of tip links in hair cells through DNA tethers

10.7554/elife.16041.006 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Aakash Basu ◽

Samuel Lagier ◽

Maria Vologodskaia ◽

Brian A Fabella ◽

AJ Hudspeth

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Stimulation ◽

Hair Cells ◽

Author Response ◽

Stimulation Of

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Delayed shortening and shrinkage of cochlear outer hair cells

AJP Cell Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpcell.1992.263.5.c1088 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 263 (5) ◽

pp. C1088-C1095 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

S. Ohnishi ◽

M. Hara ◽

M. Inoue ◽

T. Yamashita ◽

T. Kumazawa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electrical Stimulation ◽

Hair Cells ◽

Cytochalasin B ◽

Electrical Field Stimulation ◽

Outer Hair Cells ◽

Disulfonic Acid ◽

Free Medium ◽

Electrical Field ◽

Cl Channels ◽

Stimulation Of

Slow shortening of cochlear outer hair cells has been speculated to modify cochlear sensitivity. Tetanic electrical field stimulation of isolated outer hair cells from guinea pigs shortened the cells for 2-3 min. Electrical stimulation reduced cell length and volume (-13.5 +/- 1.5 and -37.3 +/- 3.0% of initial values, respectively, n = 16) and decreased the intracellular Cl- concentration. Cytochalasin B (100 microM) inhibited electrical stimulation-induced shortening but not volume reduction. The following chemicals or manipulations inhibited the responses: 10 microM furosemide, 0.1 mM 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), 1 mM anthracene-9-carboxylic acid (AC9), 25 mM tetraethylammonium, 2.3 microM charybdotoxin (ChTX), 250 nM omega-conotoxin, and Ca(2+)-free medium. These findings suggest that both electrical stimulation-induced shortening and shrinkage of outer hair cells result not only from an actin-mediated contractile force, but also from Cl- efflux through furosemide-, DIDS-, and AC9-sensitive Cl- channels, and K+ efflux through ChTX-sensitive K+ channels.

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