Sound induced displacement response of the guinea pig hearing organ and its relation to the cochlear potentials

The sound induced motion of the cells within the fourth turn of the guinea pig organ of Corti was studied in an in vitro preparation (Ulfendahl et al. 1989). The cells were visualised by relief microscopy, achieved by an oblique illumination technique. The motion of the sensory cells was observed during the recording of the extracellular receptor potentials; the cochlear microphonics (CM) and the summating potential (SP). Our results show that the temporal bone preparation sustains an endocochlear potential and maintains the receptor potentials for 3-4 h. During the tone stimulus the outer hair cells were seen to elongate and the surface of the organ of Corti was displaced in the direction of scala vestibuli. The displacement response showed two frequency maxima, one at 150 and one at 300 Hz. The mechanical tuning of the sensory organ coincided with the tuning of the receptor potentials. Both the mechanical and the electrical responses at the 300 Hz peak were vulnerable to the administration of methylene blue suggesting cyclic GMP dependence, whereas the 150 Hz peak was unaffected. We conclude that the outer hair cells provide active tuning in the organ of Corti.