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Related Concept Videos

The Cochlea01:13

The Cochlea

The cochlea is a coiled structure in the inner ear that contains hair cells—the sensory receptors of the auditory system. Sound waves are transmitted to the cochlea by small bones attached to the eardrum called the ossicles, which vibrate the oval window that leads to the inner ear. This causes fluid in the chambers of the cochlea to move, vibrating the basilar membrane.
Hair Cells01:22

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 Ear01:16

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...
Equilibrium and Balance01:15

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...
Mechanisms of Membrane-bending01:15

Mechanisms of Membrane-bending

The living membranes are flexible due to their fluid mosaic nature; however, their bending into different shapes is an active process regulated by specific lipids and proteins. The membrane bending can be transient as seen in vesicles or stable for a long time as in microvilli. Cells regulate the size, location, and duration of the membrane curvature.
Membrane bending can happen due to intrinsic changes in lipid composition or extrinsic association with different proteins. The proteins involved...
Auditory Pathway01:15

Auditory Pathway

Auditory pathways constitute the complex neural circuits responsible for transmitting and interpreting auditory information from the peripheral auditory system to the brain. Sound waves are initially captured by the outer ear, funneled through the ear canal, and reach the tympanic membrane (eardrum). These vibrations are transmitted via the middle ear's ossicles to the inner ear's cochlea.
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking the...

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Related Experiment Video

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Dextran Labeling and Uptake in Live and Functional Murine Cochlear Hair Cells
05:55

Dextran Labeling and Uptake in Live and Functional Murine Cochlear Hair Cells

Published on: February 8, 2020

Membrane cholesterol modulates cochlear electromechanics.

William E Brownell1, Stefan Jacob, Pierre Hakizimana

  • 1Bobby R. Alford Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. brownell@bcm.tmc.edu

Pflugers Archiv : European Journal of Physiology
|March 5, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cholesterol depletion in outer hair cells enhances cochlear mechanics and electromotility. This suggests cholesterol levels are critical for hearing function and cochlear amplifier performance.

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Last Updated: Jun 3, 2026

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05:55

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09:51

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Published on: November 6, 2019

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09:53

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Area of Science:

  • Otoacoustic emissions
  • Cellular biophysics
  • Auditory neuroscience

Background:

  • Cholesterol in plasma membranes influences cell function.
  • Outer hair cell (OHC) electromotility is crucial for hearing.
  • Prestin is the primary motor protein in OHCs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of cholesterol depletion on cochlear mechanics.
  • To determine if altering membrane cholesterol affects OHC electromotility and cochlear function.
  • To explore the role of cholesterol in OHC function and cochlear amplification.

Main Methods:

  • Excised guinea pig temporal bone preparation.
  • Cholesterol depletion using methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD).
  • Laser interferometry and time-resolved confocal microscopy to measure mechanical responses.
  • Acoustic and electrical stimulation.
  • Sodium salicylate to block responses.

Main Results:

  • MβCD treatment increased the magnitude and asymmetry of the electromechanical response.
  • Frequency tuning of sound-evoked responses and cochlear microphonics remained unchanged.
  • Sodium salicylate reversibly blocked the enhanced response in cholesterol-depleted OHCs.
  • Cellular integrity was maintained after MβCD exposure.

Conclusions:

  • Depleting membrane cholesterol enhances OHC electromotility and cochlear mechanical responses.
  • Cholesterol plays a significant role in regulating OHC function and cochlear amplification.
  • These findings provide insights into cholesterol distribution and trafficking in OHCs.