Stereocilia mediate transduction in vertebrate hair cells (auditory system/cilium/vestibular system)

The vertebrate hair cell is a sensory receptor that responds to mechanical stimulation of its hair bundle, which usually consists of numerous large microvilli (stereocilia) and a single true cilium (the kinocilium). We have examined the roles of these two components of the hair bundle by recording intracellularly from bullfrog saccular hair cells. Detachment of the kinocilium from the hair bundle and deflection of this cilium produces no receptor potentials. Mechanical stimulation of stereocilia, however, elicits responses of normal amplitude and sensitivity. Scanning electron microscopy confirms the assessments of ciliary position made during physiological recording. Stereocilia mediate the transduction process of the vertebrate hair cell, while the kinocilium may serve primarily as a linkage conveying mechanical displacements to the stereocilia.