[Microsurgically collected living inner hair cells allow measurements of ion channels and cell potential]

Living inner hair cells of the mammalian inner ear were dissected microsurgically from guinea-pig cochleae in the absence of proteolytic enzymes. They were kept in short-time culture for 2 hours. Viability of the preparation was monitored by registration of the cell potential with impaled microelectrodes. The patch-clamp technique allowed the identification of 3 types of ionic channels in the basolateral cell membrane. Isolated living inner hair cells are a new model allowing to investigate the cellular basis of physiological function and pathophysiological disorders of sound perception.