Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

The Vestibular System

The Vestibular System

The vestibular system is a set of inner ear structures that provide a sense of balance and spatial orientation. This system is comprised of structures within the labyrinth of the inner ear, including the cochlea and two otolith organs—the utricle and saccule. The labyrinth also contains three semicircular canals—superior, posterior, and horizontal—that are oriented on different planes.

Equilibrium and Balance

Equilibrium and Balance

The inner ear assumes dual functionalities of auditory perception and equilibrium maintenance. The vestibule is the organ responsible for balance. This organ contains mechanoreceptors, specifically hair cells, endowed with stereocilia, which aid in deciphering information regarding the position and motion of our heads. Two intrinsic components, the utricle and saccule, help perceive head position, while the semicircular canals track head movement. Neurological messages initiated in the...

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated ion channels are proteins found in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell membranes that open in response to mechanical stress. Tension, compression, swelling, and shear stress can alter the conformation of the protein, opening a transmembrane channel that allows the passage of ions for signal transmission. In eukaryotes, mechanically-gated channels are distributed in several regions like the neurons, lungs, skin, bladder, and heart, where they play critical roles in numerous...

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated ion channels are proteins found in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell membranes that open in response to mechanical stress. Tension, compression, swelling, and shear stress can alter the conformation of the protein, opening a transmembrane channel that allows the passage of ions for signal transmission. In eukaryotes, mechanically-gated channels are distributed in several regions like the neurons, lungs, skin, bladder, and heart, where they play critical roles in numerous...

Hair Cells

Hair Cells

Hair cells are the sensory receptors of the auditory system—they transduce mechanical sound waves into electrical energy that the nervous system can understand. Hair cells are located in the organ of Corti within the cochlea of the inner ear, between the basilar and tectorial membranes. The actual sensory receptors are called inner hair cells. The outer hair cells serve other functions, such as sound amplification in the cochlea, and are not discussed in detail here.

Anatomy of the Ear

Anatomy of the Ear

Auditory sensation, commonly called hearing, involves the transformation of sonic waves into neural impulses facilitated by the structures of the auditory organ. The prominent, flesh-like structure on the side of the head, called the auricle, directs sound waves towards the auditory canal. The auricle is often mislabeled as the pinna, a term more aligned with mobile structures like a feline's external ear. The auditory canal penetrates the cranium via the external auditory meatus of the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Metal-metal <i>vs.</i> metal-ligand cooperation in iron-mediated activation and catalytic reduction of nitrous oxide and nitrobenzene.

Chemical science·2026

Same author

Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation and Its Effects on Sympathetic Nervous System Activation.

Journal of integrative neuroscience·2025

Same author

Carbon-carbon bond formation and cleavage at redox active bis(pyridylimino)isoindole (BPI) germylene compounds.

Dalton transactions (Cambridge, England : 2003)·2025

Same author

A low-coordinate platinum(0)-germylene for E-H bond activation and catalytic hydrodehalogenation.

Nature communications·2024

Same author

Editorial: ASICs: structure, function, and pharmacology, part II.

Frontiers in physiology·2024

Same author

Vestibular prosthesis: from basic research to clinics.

Frontiers in integrative neuroscience·2023

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

An Isolated Semi-intact Preparation of the Mouse Vestibular Sensory Epithelium for Electrophysiology and High-resolution Two-photon Microscopy

An Isolated Semi-intact Preparation of the Mouse Vestibular Sensory Epithelium for Electrophysiology and High-resolution Two-photon Microscopy

Published on: June 13, 2013

Acid-sensing ionic-channel functional expression in the vestibular endorgans.

Rosario Vega¹, Uxmal Rodríguez, Enrique Soto

¹Instituto de Fisiología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Apartado Postal 406, Puebla, Pue. 72000, Mexico. axolotl@siu.buap.mx

Neuroscience Letters

|August 8, 2009

Summary

Acid-sensing ionic channels (ASICs) are tonically active in vestibular afferent neurons. These channels, sensitive to amiloride and acetylsalicylic acid, play a role in the resting discharge of the vestibular system.

More Related Videos

Isolating and Culturing Vestibular and Spiral Ganglion Somata from Neonatal Rodents for Patch-Clamp Recordings

Isolating and Culturing Vestibular and Spiral Ganglion Somata from Neonatal Rodents for Patch-Clamp Recordings

Published on: April 21, 2023

Combined Recording of Mechanically Stimulated Afferent Output and Nerve Terminal Labelling in Mouse Hair Follicle Lanceolate Endings

Combined Recording of Mechanically Stimulated Afferent Output and Nerve Terminal Labelling in Mouse Hair Follicle Lanceolate Endings

Published on: May 7, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026

An Isolated Semi-intact Preparation of the Mouse Vestibular Sensory Epithelium for Electrophysiology and High-resolution Two-photon Microscopy

An Isolated Semi-intact Preparation of the Mouse Vestibular Sensory Epithelium for Electrophysiology and High-resolution Two-photon Microscopy

Published on: June 13, 2013

Isolating and Culturing Vestibular and Spiral Ganglion Somata from Neonatal Rodents for Patch-Clamp Recordings

Isolating and Culturing Vestibular and Spiral Ganglion Somata from Neonatal Rodents for Patch-Clamp Recordings

Published on: April 21, 2023

Combined Recording of Mechanically Stimulated Afferent Output and Nerve Terminal Labelling in Mouse Hair Follicle Lanceolate Endings

Combined Recording of Mechanically Stimulated Afferent Output and Nerve Terminal Labelling in Mouse Hair Follicle Lanceolate Endings

Published on: May 7, 2016

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Sensory Biology
Physiology

Background:

The vestibular system's afferent neurons are sensitive to external pH changes.
Acid-sensing ionic channels (ASICs) are present in these neurons, but their function is unstudied.
ASICs are involved in sensory transduction and information processing.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of proton-gated currents mediated by ASICs in vestibular afferent neurons.
To determine the functional expression and activity of ASICs in the vestibular system.

Main Methods:

Studied electrical discharge of afferent neurons from isolated axolotl inner ear.
Utilized microperfusion with FMRF-amide to assess resting activity.
Applied ASIC antagonists amiloride and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) to observe effects on nerve discharge.

Main Results:

Microperfusion of FMRF-amide increased resting activity, indicating tonic ASIC current.
Amiloride and ASA significantly reduced vestibular nerve discharge.
These findings confirm ASIC expression and sensitivity to specific agents in vestibular afferent neurons.

Conclusions:

ASIC currents are tonically active and contribute to the resting discharge of vestibular afferent neurons.
ASICs in the vestibular system are sensitive to amiloride, ASA, and FMRF-amide.
Proton-gated currents play a significant role in postransductional information processing within the vestibular system.