Objective:To explore more reliable standards for identifying vestibular hair cells of saccule and utricle prepared in studies with patch clamp technique under inverted phase contrast microscope. Method:The length and width of two types hair cells were measured besides the length of cilia,and all datas were analyzed statistically.Result:The width and length of cilia of two types hair cells in saccule and utricle from guinea pig were similar. The length of type Ⅰ was longer than that of type Ⅱ,SO the ratio between length and width was larger and the ratio of the length between cilia and cell body was small.Conclnsion:Two type'S hair cells of saccule and utricle from guinea pig may be distinguished through the ratio of cell body's length and width even the ratio of the length between cilia and cell body,besides the standards before.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the degeneration mechanics of outer hair cells in guinea pig. METHOD: The mechanics of outer hair cells isolated by enzyme were observed under inverted microscope for 6-8 h continuously. RESULT: Over half of living outer hair cells could keep good conditions in 6 hours. During the degeneration there was always a longitudinal fold line from tip to base. Presence or absence of calcium, as well as lossing of stereociliary bundle, couldn't change the conditions of out hair cells. CONCLUSION Neither calcium nor stereociliary bundle is the decisive cause in keeping outer hair cells alive, and its degeneration may be basically related with something surrounding the cell.
Animals ; Calcium ; Cells, Cultured ; Cochlea ; cytology ; pathology ; Culture Media ; Guinea Pigs ; Hair Cells, Auditory ; cytology

OBJECTIVE: In order to meet the needs of electrophysiology outer hair cells, we investigate a method to separate outer hair cells simply and effectively. METHOD: The basal membrane was dissected combined with spiral ligament and axis of cochlea, then incubated with enzyme, and then mechanically triturated by micropipette. RESULT: A large number of living outer hair cells were obtained. Of 80% cells could keep good condition in 6 hours. CONCLUSION If increasing the enzyme concentration slightly and the large part of cochlea without outer bone was enzymes, we can get living outer hair cells easily.
Animals ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Cochlea ; cytology ; Guinea Pigs ; Hair Cells, Auditory ; cytology

OBJECTIVE: To explore more reliable standards for identifying vestibular hair cells of saccule and utricle prepared in studies with patch clamp technique under inverted phase contrast microscope. METHOD: The length and width of two type's hair cell's were measured besides the length of cilia, and all datas were analyzed statistically. RESULT: The width and length of cilia of two types hair cells in saccule and utricle from guinea pig were similar. The length of type I was longer than that of type II, so the ratio between length and width was larger and the ratio of the length between cilia and cell body was small. CONCLUSION Two type's hair cells of saccule and utricle from guinea pig may be distinguished through the ratio of cell body's length and width even the ratio of the length between cilia and cell body, besides the standards before.
Animals ; Cell Shape ; Guinea Pigs ; Hair Cells, Vestibular ; cytology ; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Saccule and Utricle ; cytology