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Crosslinks between stereocilia in hair cells of the human and guinea pig vestibular labyrinth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

David J. Jeffries ,
James O. Pickles ,
Michael P. Osborne ,
Peter H. Rhys-Evans  and
Spiro D. Comis
David J. Jeffries
Affiliation:
Birmingham
James O. Pickles
Affiliation:
Birmingham
Michael P. Osborne
Affiliation:
Birmingham
Peter H. Rhys-Evans*
Affiliation:
Birmingham
Spiro D. Comis
Affiliation:
Birmingham
*
Mr. P. H. Rhys-Evans Head and Neack Unit, The Royal Marsden Hospital, Fulham Road. London, SW3.
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Abstract

The saccules and ampullae of the semicircular canals from human and guinea pig temporal bones were fixed in glutaraldehyde without osmium. Crosslinks were seen between stereocilia of the vestibular hair cells, similar to those previously demonstrated in the guinea pig, although an additional set of crosslinks was displayed: first, horizontal crosslinks were seen between adjacent stereocilia, occupying most of the length of the hair bundle; secondly, a single upward-pointing link ran from the apex of each shorter stereocilium into the shaft of the adjacent taller ster-eocilium; thirdly, an extensive array of horizontal links were demonstrated between stereocilia close to their insertion into the cuticular plate. We suggest that these basal crosslinks support the long vestibular stereocilia rendering them more rigid, and that the upwind pointing crosslinks are responsible for the initiation of sensory transduction.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 100 , Issue 12 , December 1986 , pp. 1367 - 1374
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1986

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