Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 2, 2026

Stereocilia Bundle Imaging with Nanoscale Resolution in Live Mammalian Auditory Hair Cells
Published on: January 21, 2021
Structure of outer hair cell stereocilia side and attachment links in the chinchilla cochlea
Vladimir Tsuprun1, Peter Santi
1Department of Otolaryngology, University of Minnesota, Lions Research Building, Room 109, 2001 Sixth Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. tsupr001@tc.umn.edu
Abstract:
The structure and symmetry of chinchilla outer hair cell (OHC) stereocilia side and attachment links were investigated by transmission electron microscopy using tannic acid and Cuprolinic blue histochemical procedures. The side links run laterally between and across the rows of the stereocilia and connect the stereocilia together within the bundle. Attachment links form a crown-like array around the tips of only the tallest OHC stereocilia and attach these stereocilia to the Type B fibrils of the tectorial membrane. Computer averaging of the side links from tannic acid-treated tissues showed a central dense region of the link between adjacent stereocilia and a smaller dense portion at the plasma membrane end of the link. Computer averaging of Cuprolinic blue-treated tissues showed low electron density of the central region of the link, and the plasma membrane ends of the link were electron dense. After tannic acid treatment, the attachment links showed a diffused radial distribution around the tips of the tallest OHC stereocilia. After Cuprolinic blue treatment, the attachment links appeared as electron-dense, membrane-bound granular structures arranged with radial symmetry. The central regions of the side links are reactive to tannic acid. These regions appear to contain neutral and basic residues of proteins and participate in side-by-side association of the side links in regular aggregates. Cuprolinic blue-reactive regions of the side and attachment links appear to contain acidic sulfated residues of glycoproteins or proteoglycans, which may be involved in the attachment of these links to the stereocilium membrane.
Related Concept Videos
Hair Cells
The Cochlea
The Auditory Ossicles
The aptly named stapes look very much like a stirrup. The three ossicles are unique to mammals, and each plays a role in...
Anatomy of the Ear
Auditory Pathway
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking the...
Attachment of Sister Chromatids

