Characterization of the outer hair cell's lateral wall membranes

摘要: We examined the properties of outer hair cell (OHC) lateral wall membranes by application 2 fluorescent membrane probes. The markers, C6-NBD-Ceramide and DiOC6, have been used in other types to label Golgi apparatus endoplasmic reticulum, respectively. In living isolated OHCs NBD-Ceramide demonstrated uninterrupted fluorescence along OHC wall, while DiOC6 labeling proved punctate notably less uniform this region. aldehyde-fixed both probes exhibited distinct, continuous fluorescence. Fixed preparations organ Corti labeled with each probe diffuse throughout inner cytoplasm unlike uniform, circumferential seen OHCs. exposed salicylate following displayed patchy, distinct wall. thickness cells was 49% greater than control interpreted induced change as a representation previously described ultrastructural dilatation vesiculation subsurface cisternae. distribution these suggests that OHC's cisternae are neither nor ER, but share characteristics both.