Biomaterial Database

Evidence for potassium-induced motility in type I vestibular hair cells in the guinea pig. 1990

A Didier, and L Decory, and Y Cazals

Laboratoire d'Audiologie Expérimentale, Inserm unité 229, Hôpital Pellegrin, Bordeaux, France.

In higher vertebrates, vestibular epithelia contain two types of hair cells, type I and type II cells. Physiological properties of single nerve units have been correlated to the corresponding hair cell type and a better knowledge of the hair cell static and dynamic properties should help in understanding transduction and coding in the vestibular system. For the auditory system, isolated outer cochlear hair cells (OHCs) have provided a useful approach for electrophysiological studies and for observations of motile processes involved in the active control of cochlear micromechanics. The present study tests the hypothesis of motile properties in guinea-pig vestibular hair cells, using stimuli known to elicit motile events in OHCs. After exposure to a medium containing a high concentration in potassium (125 mM or 80 mM KCl), 19 of 26 type I hair cells showed an irreversible tilt of the neck region often accompanied by an obvious swelling of the cell body. In contrast, no shape changes were detected in type II cells. In response to extracellular electrical stimulation, no motility was observed in either type I or type II cells.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011188	Potassium	An element in the alkali group of metals with an atomic symbol K, atomic number 19, and atomic weight 39.10. It is the chief cation in the intracellular fluid of muscle and other cells. Potassium ion is a strong electrolyte that plays a significant role in the regulation of fluid volume and maintenance of the WATER-ELECTROLYTE BALANCE.
D002465	Cell Movement	The movement of cells from one location to another. Distinguish from CYTOKINESIS which is the process of dividing the CYTOPLASM of a cell.	Cell Migration,Locomotion, Cell,Migration, Cell,Motility, Cell,Movement, Cell,Cell Locomotion,Cell Motility,Cell Movements,Movements, Cell
D004558	Electric Stimulation	Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses.	Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D006168	Guinea Pigs	A common name used for the genus Cavia. The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research.	Cavia,Cavia porcellus,Guinea Pig,Pig, Guinea,Pigs, Guinea
D006198	Hair Cells, Auditory	Sensory cells in the organ of Corti, characterized by their apical stereocilia (hair-like projections). The inner and outer hair cells, as defined by their proximity to the core of spongy bone (the modiolus), change morphologically along the COCHLEA. Towards the cochlear apex, the length of hair cell bodies and their apical STEREOCILIA increase, allowing differential responses to various frequencies of sound.	Auditory Hair Cells,Cochlear Hair Cells,Auditory Hair Cell,Cell, Cochlear Hair,Cells, Cochlear Hair,Cochlear Hair Cell,Hair Cell, Auditory,Hair Cell, Cochlear,Hair Cells, Cochlear
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014722	Vestibule, Labyrinth	An oval, bony chamber of the inner ear, part of the bony labyrinth. It is continuous with bony COCHLEA anteriorly, and SEMICIRCULAR CANALS posteriorly. The vestibule contains two communicating sacs (utricle and saccule) of the balancing apparatus. The oval window on its lateral wall is occupied by the base of the STAPES of the MIDDLE EAR.	Vestibular Apparatus,Ear Vestibule,Vestibular Labyrinth,Vestibule of Ear,Vestibulum Auris,Apparatus, Vestibular,Ear Vestibules,Labyrinth Vestibule,Labyrinth Vestibules,Labyrinth, Vestibular,Labyrinths, Vestibular,Vestibular Labyrinths,Vestibule, Ear,Vestibules, Ear,Vestibules, Labyrinth