Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Postsynaptic Recordings at Afferent Dendrites Contacting Cochlear Inner Hair Cells: Monitoring Multivesicular Release at a Ribbon Synapse
Published on: February 10, 2011
Afferent and efferent nerve endings of the outer hair cells in the rabbit
Abstract:
The afferent and efferent nerve endings of the outer hair cells of the rabbit were investigated electron-microscopically. The afferent nerve ending was 1.4 X 2.0 microns in size and contained small vesicles, spherical mitochondria, and occasionally multivesicular bodies. The partially thick and dense membranes on either side of the synaptic cleft were observed and this region of the synaptic cleft was high in electron density. This area was considered to be an active zone of the afferent nerve ending. The efferent nerve ending was 4.0 X 6.0 microns in size and contained many synaptic vesicles, many oblong mitochondria, and multivesicular bodies. Synaptic vesicles were concentrated at some sites opposite the synaptic cleft. This area was thought to be an active zone where vesicles discharge their contents into the synaptic cleft. Furthermore, in some places of the synaptic cleft there were gaps (0.16 X 0.68 microns) which contained small vesicles. The gaps in the synaptic cleft have been briefly discussed.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Hair Cells
The Cochlea
Unrenewable Cells
Photoreceptors
The retina is composed of several layers and contains specialized cells called photoreceptors. The photoreceptors (rods and cones) change their membrane potential when stimulated by light energy. There are two types of photoreceptors—rods and cones—which differ in the shape of their outer...
Sensory Functions of the Skin
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...
Anatomy of the Ear
Auditory Pathway
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking the...

