Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 27, 2026

Stereocilia Bundle Imaging with Nanoscale Resolution in Live Mammalian Auditory Hair Cells
Published on: January 21, 2021
[Stereociliary cross-links on the guinea pig utricle hair cells]
1Department of Otolaryngology, Nanshan People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518052.
Objective:
To observe the cross-links between stereocilia on guinea pig utricle hair cells.
Method:
Twenty-four utricles from pigmented guinea pigs were examined using high resolution scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Result:
An extensive network of cross-links occurs between stereocilia of utricle hair cells. These links fall into three categories. Upward-pointing links: from the tips of shorter stereocilia to the side of the adjacent taller stereocilia; Side-to-side links: between stereocilia of the same row; Row-to-row links: between adjacent rows.
Conclusion:
The existence of the stereociliary cross-links binds the hair bundles together and may be associated with the transduction process.

