scholarly journals Actuation of flexoelectric membranes in viscoelastic fluids with applications to outer hair cells

Author(s):  
E. E. Herrera-Valencia ◽  
Alejandro D. Rey

Liquid crystal flexoelectric actuation uses an imposed electric field to create membrane bending, and it is used by the outer hair cells (OHCs) located in the inner ear, whose role is to amplify sound through generation of mechanical power. Oscillations in the OHC membranes create periodic viscoelastic flows in the contacting fluid media. A key objective of this work on flexoelectric actuation relevant to OHCs is to find the relations and impact of the electromechanical properties of the membrane, the rheological properties of the viscoelastic media, and the frequency response of the generated mechanical power output. The model developed and used in this work is based on the integration of: (i) the flexoelectric membrane shape equation applied to a circular membrane attached to the inner surface of a circular capillary and (ii) the coupled capillary flow of contacting viscoelastic phases, such that the membrane flexoelectric oscillations drive periodic viscoelastic capillary flows, as in OHCs. By applying the Fourier transform formalism to the governing equation, analytical expressions for the transfer function associated with the curvature and electrical field and for the power dissipation of elastic storage energy were found.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. H. Iwasa

AbstractThe effectiveness of outer hair cells (OHCs) in amplifying the motion of the organ of Corti, and thereby contributing to the sensitivity of mammalian hearing, depends on the mechanical power output of these cells. Electromechanical coupling in OHCs, which enables these cells to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy, has been analyzed in detail using isolated cells using primarily static membrane models. In the preceding reports, mechanical output of OHC was evaluated by developing a kinetic theory based on a simplified onedimensional (1D) model for OHCs. Here such a kinetic description of OHCs is extended by using the membrane model, which has been used for analyzing in vitro experiments. The present theory predicts, for systems without inertial load, that elastic load enhances positive shift of voltage dependence of the membrane capacitance due to turgor pressure. For systems with inertia, mechanical power output also depends on turgor pressure. The maximal power output is, however, similar to the previous prediction of up to ∼10 fW based on the 1D model.Statement of SignificanceThis paper is an attempt for developing a physical model to clarify the mechanism of outer hair cells in performing their role as an amplifier in mammalian hearing. Specifically, this paper extends a static model of these cells into a dynamic one to evaluate mechanical power production, which is essential for the function of these cells. It clarifies the assumptions essential for a previous phenomenological theory, a 1-D model. In addition, it describes the effect of turgor pressure on mechanical power generation.


Author(s):  
Zhixian Wang ◽  
Pinjin Zhu ◽  
Jianhe Sun ◽  
Xuezheng Song

Hearing research is important not only for clinical, professional and military medicine, but also for toxicology, gerontology and genetics. Ultrastructure of the cochlea attracts much attention of electron microscopists, (1―3) but the research lags far behind that of the other parts of the organnism. On the basis of careful microdissection, technical improvment and accurate observation, we have got some new findings which have not been reported in the literature.We collected four cochleas from human corpses. Temporal bones dissected 1 h after death and cochleas perfused with fixatives 4 h after death were good enough in terms of preservation of fine structures. SEM:The apical surface of OHCs (Outer hair cells) and DTs (Deiters cells) is narrower than that of IPs (Inner pillar cells). The mosaic configuration of the reticular membrane is not typical. The stereocilia of IHCs (Inner hair cells) are not uniform and some kinocilia could be seen on the OHCs in adults. The epithelial surface of RM (Reissner’s membrane) is not smooth and no mesh could be seen on the mesothelial surface of RM. TEM.


2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asti Kristianti ◽  
Teti Madiadipoera ◽  
Bogi Soeseno

Background: Chemotherapy is worldwide used nowadays, and its toxicity still remain a problemespecially toxicity to the ear (ototoxicity). Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum) is one of themost commonly used chemotherapy and highly potent in treating epithelial malignancies. Ototoxicitycaused by cisplatin is irreversible, progressive, bilateral, sensorineural hearing loss especially on highfrequency (4-8 KHz) accompanied by tinnitus. Purpose: To observe the cochlear outer hair cells damagein malignancies patients treated with cisplatin. Methods: This study is an observational analytic studywith prospective design to determine the influence of high dose cisplatin on cochlear outer hair cellsfunction. The research was carried out at the ENT-HNS Department, Hasan Sadikin General HospitalBandung, from November 2007 until June 2008. Audiometry, tympanometry, and distortion productotoacoustic emission (DPOAE) examinations were conducted before chemotherapy and DPOAE, andtimpanometry was again measured three days after first and second cycles of cisplatin administration. McNemar test was performed to calculate the effects of high-dose cisplatin to the cochlear outer haircells function. To compare pre and post-cisplatin on alteration of cochlear hair cells function, Wilcoxontest was used. Results: In this study 60 ears from 30 subjects that meet the inclusion criteria, consistedof 25 man (83.3%) and 5 women (16.7%). The prevalence of damaged cochlear outer hair cells were63% at first cycle and 70% at second cycle of cisplatin administration. The decline of cochlear outerhair cells function was significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: High-dose cisplatin decreases cochlear outerhair cells function in patients with malignant neoplasm. Abstrak : Latar belakang: Kemoterapi sekarang rutin digunakan secara klinis di seluruh dunia. Sejalan denganhal tersebut toksisitas kemoterapi, khususnya terhadap telinga saat ini menjadi perhatian. Sisplatin(cis-diamminedichloroplatinum) adalah salah satu obat kemoterapi yang paling banyak digunakandan paling manjur untuk terapi keganasan epitelial. Efek ototoksik sisplatin yaitu terjadi gangguandengar sensorineural yang irreversible, progresif, bilateral pada frekuensi tinggi (4-8 kHz), dan disertaidengan tinitus. Tujuan: Untuk menilai penurunan fungsi sel rambut luar koklea pada penderita tumorganas sesudah pemberian sisplatin dosis tinggi dengan menggunakan DPOAE. Metode: Studi analitikobservasional dengan rancangan prospektif di Bagian IK. THT-KL RS. Hasan Sadikin Bandung mulaibulan November 2007 sampai dengan Juni 2008. Pada penelitian ini dilakukan pemeriksaan audiometrinada murni, timpanometri, dan distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) prakemoterapi, kemudianDPOAE dan timpanometri diulang tiga hari sesudah siklus pertama dan kedua kemoterapi sisplatin. Datayang diperoleh diuji dengan uji McNemar dan uji Wilcoxon. Hasil: Dari penelitian didapat 60 telingadari 30 subjek penelitian yang memenuhi kriteria inklusi yang terdiri dari 25 laki-laki (83,3%) dan 5perempuan (16,7%). Insidens penurunan fungsi sel rambut luar koklea sebesar 63% (38 kasus) sesudahsiklus pertama dan 70% (42 kasus) sesudah siklus kedua. Hubungan penurunan fungsi sel rambut luarkoklea memberikan nilai yang sangat bermakna sejak pemberian siklus pertama (p<0,001). Kesimpulan:Pemberian sisplatin dosis tinggi pada penderita tumor ganas menyebabkan penurunan fungsi sel rambutluar koklea.Kata kunci: kemoterapi, sisplatin dosis tinggi, sel rambut luar koklea.


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-25
Author(s):  
S.V. Amel’kin ◽  
D.Ye. Igoshin

A self-assembly model for porous hydrate structures is proposed, which takes into account the sequence of basic physical processes: hydrate growth on the surface of the aqueous solution, formation of islet structure, capillary flow, separation and transfer of secondary crystallization nuclei to the meniscus. The model was studied within the cellular automata method. A good correspondence between the results of the simulation and the experimental data is obtained.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fumiaki Nin ◽  
Samuel Choi ◽  
Takeru Ota ◽  
Zhang Qi ◽  
Hiroshi Hibino

AbstractSound evokes sub-nanoscale vibration within the sensory epithelium. The epithelium contains not only immotile cells but also contractile outer hair cells (OHCs) that actively shrink and elongate synchronously with the sound. However, the in vivo motion of OHCs has remained undetermined. The aim of this work is to perform high-resolution and -accuracy vibrometry in live guinea pigs with an SC-introduced spectral-domain optical coherence tomography system (SD-OCT). In this study, to reveal the effective contribution of SC source in the recording of the low reflective materials with the short total acquisition time, we compare the performances of the SC-introduced SD-OCT (SCSD-OCT) to that of the conventional SD-OCT. As inanimate comparison objects, we record a mirror, a piezo actuator, and glass windows. For the measurements in biological materials, we use in/ex vivo guinea pig cochleae. Our study achieved the optimization of a SD-OCT system for high-resolution in vivo vibrometry in the cochlear sensory epithelium, termed the organ of Corti, in mammalian cochlea. By introducing a supercontinuum (SC) light source and reducing the total acquisition time, we improve the axial resolution and overcome the difficulty in recording the low reflective material in the presence of biological noise. The high power of the SC source enables the system to achieve a spatial resolution of 1.72 ± 0.00 μm on a mirror and reducing the total acquisition time contributes to the high spatial accuracy of sub-nanoscale vibrometry. Our findings reveal the vibrations at the apical/basal region of OHCs and the extracellular matrix, basilar membrane.


Author(s):  
Xiao Lin ◽  
Michael G. K. Brunk ◽  
Pingan Yuanxiang ◽  
Andrew W. Curran ◽  
Enqi Zhang ◽  
...  

AbstractHearing deficits impact on the communication with the external world and severely compromise perception of the surrounding. Deafness can be caused by particular mutations in the neuroplastin (Nptn) gene, which encodes a transmembrane recognition molecule of the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily and plasma membrane Calcium ATPase (PMCA) accessory subunit. This study investigates whether the complete absence of neuroplastin or the loss of neuroplastin in the adult after normal development lead to hearing impairment in mice analyzed by behavioral, electrophysiological, and in vivo imaging measurements. Auditory brainstem recordings from adult neuroplastin-deficient mice (Nptn−/−) show that these mice are deaf. With age, hair cells and spiral ganglion cells degenerate in Nptn−/− mice. Adult Nptn−/− mice fail to behaviorally respond to white noise and show reduced baseline blood flow in the auditory cortex (AC) as revealed by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). In adult Nptn−/− mice, tone-evoked cortical activity was not detectable within the primary auditory field (A1) of the AC, although we observed non-persistent tone-like evoked activities in electrophysiological recordings of some young Nptn−/− mice. Conditional ablation of neuroplastin in Nptnlox/loxEmx1Cre mice reveals that behavioral responses to simple tones or white noise do not require neuroplastin expression by central glutamatergic neurons. Loss of neuroplastin from hair cells in adult NptnΔlox/loxPrCreERT mice after normal development is correlated with increased hearing thresholds and only high prepulse intensities result in effective prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle response. Furthermore, we show that neuroplastin is required for the expression of PMCA 2 in outer hair cells. This suggests that altered Ca2+ homeostasis underlies the observed hearing impairments and leads to hair cell degeneration. Our results underline the importance of neuroplastin for the development and the maintenance of the auditory system.


Neuroscience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 607-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Brundin ◽  
Å. Flock ◽  
S.M. Khanna ◽  
M. Ulfendahl

2021 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 122-132
Author(s):  
Kuni H. Iwasa

Author(s):  
Hui Wang ◽  
Hanbo Zhao ◽  
Yujia Chu ◽  
Jiang Feng ◽  
Keping Sun

Abstract High-frequency hearing is particularly important for echolocating bats and toothed whales. Previously, studies of the hearing-related genes Prestin, KCNQ4, and TMC1 documented that adaptive evolution of high-frequency hearing has taken place in echolocating bats and toothed whales. In this study, we present two additional candidate hearing-related genes, Shh and SK2, that may also have contributed to the evolution of echolocation in mammals. Shh is a member of the vertebrate Hedgehog gene family and is required in the specification of the mammalian cochlea. SK2 is expressed in both inner and outer hair cells, and it plays an important role in the auditory system. The coding region sequences of Shh and SK2 were obtained from a wide range of mammals with and without echolocating ability. The topologies of phylogenetic trees constructed using Shh and SK2 were different; however, multiple molecular evolutionary analyses showed that those two genes experienced different selective pressures in echolocating bats and toothed whales compared to non-echolocating mammals. In addition, several nominally significant positively selected sites were detected in the non-functional domain of the SK2 gene, indicating that different selective pressures were acting on different parts of the SK2 gene. This study has expanded our knowledge of the adaptive evolution of high-frequency hearing in echolocating mammals.


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