An experimental study on the physical properties of the cupula. Effect of cupular sectioning on the ampullary nerve action potential.

The frog posterior semicircular canal (PSC) was isolated and a part of the ampullary wall was cut to allow removal of the cupula from the crista. The cupula was replaced on the crista and the PSC ampullary action potential was recorded. The cupula was again removed and was sectioned in half, either in the plane vertical to the crista (vertical sectioning), or in the plane parallel to the crista (horizontal sectioning). The sectioned half of the cupula was then replaced on the crista. The action potentials after replacement of the vertical or horizontal segments of the cupula were compared to those achieved when the entire cupula was replaced. After vertical sectioning, the action potentials were significantly reduced; they were 50.3% of the completely replaced cupula when a small stimulus was used and 79.1% when a large stimulus was used. A reduced attachment surface between the cupular base and the crista is possibly responsible for the decreased action potential in the vertically sectioned specimen. After horizontal sectioning, the action potentials were 64.5% for the small stimulus and 108.2% for the large stimulus. These results indicate that elicited responses are related to the height of the cupula and the deflection angle. This further suggests that the movement of the cupula is represented by that of the elastic system.