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Updated: Aug 24, 2026

An Isolated Semi-intact Preparation of the Mouse Vestibular Sensory Epithelium for Electrophysiology and High-resolution Two-photon Microscopy
Published on: June 13, 2013
A fine method of evaluating the physiological function of vestibular hair cells
Akiko Taura1, Juichi Ito, Harunori Ohmori
1Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. fujino@ent.kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
We have established a fine method of evaluating the physiological function of vestibular hair cells. We examined the mechano-electrical transduction (MET) to study the physiological function of a hair cell. Hair cells composing the vestibular maculae were loaded with fura-2 AM, and the Ca2+ responses to the mechanical stimulation of hair bundles were monitored. The vestibular maculae were dissected from 1 to 3-day-old rats and were incubated with fura-2 AM for 30 min. Next, the Ca2+ responses generated through the activation of the MET were studied by the water puff stimulation of hair bundles. In addition, the acute effect of gentamicin was confirmed by this method.
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