In vivo Organ of Corti Mechanoelectric Physiology

 描述(由申请人提供)：耳蜗生理学实验室的一个目标是了解Corti器官的组件如何增强基底膜的声音诱导振动，这一过程被称为耳蜗放大(CA)。有两个值得广泛关注的问题需要研究：外毛细胞如何传递力量来激活CA以及覆盖膜在CA中的机械作用是什么？标准技术显然不足以回答这些问题，因此将使用新的创新方法。我们开发的傅立叶域光学(低)相干层析成像(FDOCT)系统为CA的研究提供了独特的可能性。使用这种方法，我们建议确定由OHC力驱动的Corti器官的复杂运动如何导致内毛细胞立体纤毛的机械刺激。这是听力中至关重要的第一步，即内毛细胞的形成。我们还建议确定被膜是否存在与Corti功能器官相关的机械共振。这是理解外毛细胞上的立体纤毛发束的移位如何具有适当的时机来使它们主动产生的任何力量有效的基础。外毛细胞活动的分布是了解行波如何传播的基础。利用FDOCT和数学模型对CA的空间分布进行了研究。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A goal of the cochlear physiology laboratory is to understand how the components of the organ of Corti enhance the sound induced vibration of the basilar membrane, a process known as cochlear amplification (CA). Two questions of broad interest are to be studied; how do the outer hair cells transmit force to activate the CA and what is the mechanical role of the tectorial membrane in CA? Standard techniques are clearly insufficient for answering these questions, so new and innovative methodology will be used. The Fourier Domain Optical (Low) Coherence Tomography (FDOCT) system that we developed gives unique possibilities for studying CA. Using this method; we propose to determine how the complex motion of the organ of the Corti, powered by OHC forces, results in mechanical stimulation of the inner hair cell stereocilia. This is the critical first step in hearing, the stiulation of inner hair cells. We also propose to determine whether the tectorial membrane has a mechanical resonance relevant to organ of Corti function. This is fundamental to understanding how the displacement of the stereocilia hair bundles on outer hair cells can have the proper timing to make effective any force that they actively produce. The distribution of outer hair cell activity is fundamental to knowing how the traveling wave propagates. The spatial distribution of the CA is studied with FDOCT and mathematical modeling.