The cross-links between outer hair cell stereocilia in the guinea pig cochlea
- VernacularTitle:豚鼠耳蜗毛细胞静纤毛连接桥的超微结构观察
- Author:
Jianhe SUN
;
Weiyan YANG
;
Yaoyun FANG
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
stereocilium;
cross-link;
transduction;
cochlear hair cell;
guinea pigs
- From:
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army
2001;0(11):-
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the structure and function of cross-links on stereocilia of guinea pig outer hair cell (OHC). Method The ultrastructures of cross-links on stereocilia of guinea pig OHC were observed by scanning electron microscopy and tannic acid procedures. Results The side-links ran horizontally between OHC stereocilia. The stereocilia of the same and different row on each hair cell were joined by horizontally-running links. The side-links were observed in the first turn as well as the fourth turn. There were more side-links on the intact stereocilia than that on the disrupted arrangement. The side-links in the first turn and the fourth turn were more abundant than that in the second turn and the third turn. The side-links between stereocilia were spare if the stereocilia were separated. The number of side-links on stereocilia was proportional to the number of bulb-like structures on stereocilia. Conclusion The side-link is a kind of morphological structure on hair cells stereocilia of cochlea. The results suggest that cross-links play an important role in maintaining the structure and function of the hair cell stereocilia.
