Skip to main content

Cytoskeletal Organisation in the Apex of Cochlear Hair Cells

  • Chapter
Auditory Pathway

Abstract

The cytoskeleton is an essential component of cells, performing biomechanical functions ranging from support to motility and intracellular transport. Two major cytoskeletal proteins which occur ubiquitously in eukaryotic cells are actin and tubulin. Actin occurs with actin-binding and actin-bundling proteins, where it functions primarily to provide support or stiffening, and with myosin and tropomyosin, a combination often associated with motility, in both muscle and nonmuscle cells. Tubulin occurs mainly in the form of microtubules which perform functions ranging from cell shape determination to motility in a wide variety of mammalian cells, as well as in cells in lower vertebrates and invertebrates (for reviews on the cytoskeleton see Stebbings and Hyams, 1979; Tucker, 1979).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ashmore, J. F., 1987, A fast motile response in guinea pig outer hair cells, J. Physiol., 388:323–347.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brownell, W. E., Bader, C. R., Bertrand, D. and de Ribaupierre, Y., 1985, Evoked mechanical responses of isolated cochlear hair cells, Science, 227:194–196.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carlisle, L., Thorne, P. R., Zajic, G., Schacht, J., and Altschuler, R. A., 1987, F-actin in the cochlea: differential distribution

    Google Scholar 

  • Drenkhahn, D., Kellner, J., Mannherz, H. G., Groschel-Steward, U., Kendrick-Jones, J. and Scholey, J., 1982, Absence of myosin-like immunoreactivity in stereocilia of cochlear hair cells, Nature, 300:531–532.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drenkhahn, D., Schafer, T. and Prinz, M., 1985, Actin, myosin, and associated proteins in the vertebrate auditory and vestibular organs: immunocytochemical and biochemical studies, in: “Auditory Biochemistry”, Drescher, D., ed., Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Illinois.

    Google Scholar 

  • EngstrÖm, H. and Engström, B., 1978, Structure of the hairs on cochlear sensory cells, Hearing Res., 1:49–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flock, A., 1985, Contractile and structural proteins in the auditory organ, in: “Auditory Biochemistry”, Drescher, D., ed., Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Illinois.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flock, A., Bretscher, A. and Weber, K., 1982, Immunohistochemical localisation of several cytoskeletal proteins in inner ear sensory and supporting cells, Hearing Res., 6:75–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Furness, D. N. and Hackney, C. M., 1985, Cross-links between stereocilia in the guinea pig cochlea, Hearing Res., 18:177–188.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hudspeth, A. J., 1983, Mechanoelectrical transduction by hair cells in the acousticolateralis sensory system, Ann. Rev. Neurosci., 6:187–215.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kimura, R. S., 1975, The ultrastructure of the organ of Corti, Int. Rev. Cytol., 42:173–222.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Macartney, J. C., Comis, S. D. and Pickles, J. D., 1980, Is myosin in the cochlea a basis for active motility? Nature, 288:491–492.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Slepecky, N. and Chamberlain, S. C., 1985, Immunoelectron-microscopic and immunofluorescent localisation of cytoskeletal and muscle-like contractile proteins in inner ear sensory hair cells, Hearing Res., 20:245–260.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stebbings, H. and Hyams, J. S., 1979, Cell Motility, Longman, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tilney, L. G., Egelman, E. H., De Rosier, D. J. and Saunders, J. C., 1983, Actin filaments, stereocilia and hair cells of the bird cochlea II. Packing of actin filaments in the stereocilia and in the cuticular plate and what happens to the organisation when the stereocilia are bent, J. Cell Biol., 96:822–834.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tucker, J. B., 1979, Spatial organization of microtubules, in: “Microtubules”, Roberts, K, Hyams, J. S., eds., Academic Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zenner, H. P., Zimmerman, U. and Schmitt, U., 1985, Reversible contraction of isolated mammalian cochlear hair cells, Hearing Res., 18: 127–133.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1988 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Furness, D.N., Hackney, C.M. (1988). Cytoskeletal Organisation in the Apex of Cochlear Hair Cells. In: Syka, J., Masterton, R.B. (eds) Auditory Pathway. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-1300-7_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-1300-7_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-1302-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-1300-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics