Gale J E, Ashmore J F
Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, University Walk, Bristol, U.K.
Proc Biol Sci. 1994 Mar 22;255(1344):243-9. doi: 10.1098/rspb.1994.0035.
The properties of the basolateral membrane of cochlear outer hair cells were studied under whole-cell patch clamp to measure currents and capacitance changes associated with mechanical deformation. Stretching the membrane of outer hair cells along the cell axis generated a transient inward current, and subsequent relaxation of the membrane produced a similar transient outward current. These mechanically activated currents were velocity dependent with a mean sensitivity of 29 pA s mm-1. Unlike ionic currents, these currents did not reverse, but reached a peak magnitude at -33 mV. Stretching the cell also resulted in a measurable capacitance decrease of 0.3-1.1 pF microns-1. These results suggest that membrane stretch can induce a rapid charge movement resulting from the reversal of the electromechanical transduction process in outer hair cells.
在全细胞膜片钳条件下研究了耳蜗外毛细胞基底外侧膜的特性，以测量与机械变形相关的电流和电容变化。沿细胞轴拉伸外毛细胞的膜会产生一个瞬时内向电流，随后膜的松弛会产生类似的瞬时外向电流。这些机械激活电流与速度有关，平均灵敏度为29 pA s mm-1。与离子电流不同，这些电流不会反转，而是在-33 mV时达到峰值幅度。拉伸细胞还导致可测量的电容下降，为0.3-1.1 pF μm-1。这些结果表明，膜拉伸可诱导外毛细胞机电转导过程逆转导致的快速电荷移动。
