Viscoelastic relaxation in the membrane of the auditory outer hair cell

被引:23
作者
Ehrenstein, D
Iwase, KH
机构
[1] Biophysics Section, Laboratory of Cellular Biology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda
[2] National Institutes of Health, Bldg. 9, MSC 0922, Bethesda
关键词
D O I
10.1016/S0006-3495(96)79310-4
中图分类号
Q6 [生物物理学];
学科分类号
071011 ;
摘要
The outer hair cell (OHC) in the mammalian ear has a unique membrane potential-dependent motility, which is considered to be important for frequency discrimination (tuning), The OHC motile mechanism is located at the cell membrane and is strongly influenced by its passive mechanical properties. To study the viscoelastic properties of OHCs, we exposed cells to a hypoosmotic solution for varying durations and then punctured them, to immediately release the osmotic stress. Using video records of the cells, we determined both the imposed strain and the strain after puncturing, when stress was reset to zero. The strain data were described by a simple rheological model consisting of two springs and a dashpot, and the fit to this model gave a time constant of 40 +/- 19 s for the relaxation (reduction) of tension during prolonged strain. For time scales much shorter or longer than this, we would expect essentially elastic behavior. This relaxation process affects the membrane tension of the cell, and because it has been shown that membrane tension has a modulatory role in the OHC's motility, this relaxation process could be part of an adaptation mechanism, with which the motility system of the OHC can adjust to changing conditions and maintain optimum membrane tension.
引用
收藏
页码:1087 / 1094
页数:8
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