Abstract
The passive and active properties of the cochlear outer hair cell are studied. The outer hair cell is currently considered the major candidate for the active component of mammalian hearing. Understanding of its properties may explain the amplification and sharp frequency selectivity of the ear. To analyse the cell behaviour, a model of a nonlinear anisotropic electro-elastic shell is used. Using the data from three independent experiments, where the mechanical strains of the cell are measured, estimates of the cell wall in-plane Young's moduli and Poisson's ratios are given, as well as estimates of three modes of bending stiffness. Based on these estimates and data from the microchamber experiment, where the cell is under the action of transmembrane potential changes, the characteristics of the outer hair cell active behaviour are found. These characteristics include the coefficients of the active force production per unit of the transmembrane potential change and limiting parameters of the electromotile response for extreme hyperpolarisation and depolarisation of the cell. The obtained estimates provide important information for the modelling of organ-level cochlear mechanics.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brownell, W. E., Bader, C. D., Bertrand, D., andde Ribaupierre, Y. (1985): ‘Evoked mechanical responses of isolated outer hair cells’,Science,224, pp. 194–196
Brownell, W. E. (1990): ‘Outer hair cell electromotility and otoacoustic emissions’,Ear & Hearing,11, pp. 82–92
Dallos, P., Hallworth, R. andEvans, B. N. (1993): ‘Theory of electrically driven shape changes of cochlear outer hair cells’,J. Neurophysiol.,70, pp. 299–323
Dallos, P. (1996), ‘Overview: cochlear neurobiology’,inDallos, P., Popper, A. N., andFay, R. R. (Eds.): ‘The Cochlea’ (Springer). pp. 1–43
Frank, G., Hemmert, W., Wirth, M., andGummer, A. W. (1998): ‘High frequency limit of electrically induced length changes of mammalian outer hair cells’,inPopelka, G. R. (Ed): Abstracts of the 21 st Annual ARO Meeting’ (Des Moines, IA). p. 19
Hallworth, R. (1997): ‘Modulation of OHC force generation and stiffness by agents known to affect hearing’,inLewis, E. R., Long, G. R. Lyon, R. F., Narins, P. M., Steele, C. R., andHecht-Poinar, E. (Eds.): ‘Diversity in auditory mechanics’ (World Science Publ.). pp 524–530
Holley, M. C., andAshmore, J. F. (1988): ‘A cytoskeletal spring in cochlear outer hair cell’,Nature,335, pp. 635–637
Holley, M. C. (1996): ‘Outer hair cell motility’,inDallos, P., Popper, A. N., andFay, R. R. (Eds.): ‘The Cochlea’ (Springer). pp. 387–434
Iwasa, K. H., andChadwick, R. S. (1992): ‘Elasticity and active force generation of cochlea outer hair cells’,J. Acoust. Soc. Am.,92, pp. 3169–3173
Iwasa, K. H. (1994): ‘A membrane motor model for the fast motility of the outer hair cell’,J. Acoust. Soc. Am.,94, pp. 2216–2224
Iwasa, K. H., andAdachi, M. (1997): ‘Force generation in the outer hair cell of the cochlea’,Biophys. J.,73, pp. 546–555
Librescu, L. (1975): ‘Elastostatics and kinetics of anisotropic and heterogeneous shell-type structures’ (Noordhoff, Leyden)
Patuzzi, R. (1996); ‘Cochlear micromechanics and macromechanics’,inDallos, P., Popper, A. N., andFay, R. R. (Eds.): ‘The Cochlea’ (Springer). pp. 186–257
Ratnanather, J. T., Zhi, M., Brownell, W. E., andPopel, A. S. (1996): ‘The ratio of elestic moduli of cochlear outer hair cells derived from osmotic experiments’,J. Acoust. Soc. Am.,99, pp. 1025–1028
Russell, I. J., andSchauz, C. (1995): ‘Salicylate ototixicity: effects of the stiffness and electromotility of outer hair cells isolated from the guinea pig cochlea’,Aud. Neurosci.,1, pp. 309–320
Santos-Sacchi, J. (1988): ‘Cochlear physiology’,inJahn, A. F., andSantos-Sacchi, J. (Eds.): ‘Physiology of the ear’ (Raven Press, New York), pp. 271–293
Sit, S. P., Spector, A. A., Lue, A.J.-C., Popel, A. S., andBrownell, W. E. (1997): ‘Micropipet aspiration of the outer hair cell lateral wall’,Biophys. J.,72, pp. 2812–2819
Spector, A. A., Brownell, W. E., andPopel, A. S. (1996a): ‘A model of cochlea outer hair cell deformations in micropipette experiments: An analytical solution’,Ann. Biomed. Eng.,24, pp. 241–249
Spector, A. A., Brownell, W. E., andPopel, A. S. (1996b): ‘A model of elastic properties of cell membranes’,inBatra, R. C., andBeatty, M. F. (Eds.): ‘Contemporary research in mechanics and mathematics of materials’ (International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering, Barcelona, Spain) pp. 55–66
Spector, A. A., Brownell, W. E., andPopel, A. S. (1998a): ‘Elastic properties of the composite outer hair cell wall’Ann. Biomed. Eng.,26, pp. 157–165
Spector, A. A., Brownell, W. E., andPopel, A. S. (1998b): ‘Analysis of the micropipet experiment with the anisotropic outer hair cell wall’,J. Acoust. Soc. Am.,103, pp. 1001–1006
Tolomeo, J. A., andSteele, C. R. (1995): ‘Orthotropic properties of cochlear outer hair cell wall’,J. Acoust. Soc. Am.,97, pp. 3006–3011
Ulfendahl, M., Chan, E., McConnaughey, W. B., Prost-Domansky, S., andElson, E. (1998): ‘The Relationship between axial and transverse stiffness of auditory sensory cells suggests a common mechanical basis’,Pflügers Arch-Eur. J. Physiol.,436, pp. 9–15
Xue, S., Mountain, D. C., andHubbard, A. E. (1993): ‘Direct measurement of electrically-evoked basilar membrane motion’,inDuifhuis, H., Horst, J. W., vanDijk, P., andvanNetten, S. M. (Eds.): ‘Biophysics of hair cell sensory systems’ (World Scientific, Singapore). pp. 361–368
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Spector, A.A., Brownell, W.E. & Popel, A.S. Mechanical and electromotile characteristics of auditory outer hair cells. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 37, 247–251 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02513294
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02513294