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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 576/1/43    most recent jphysiol.2006.114975v1 Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Frolenkov, G. I. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Frolenkov, G. I. Related Collections Review articles

¹ Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA

Mechanosensory outer hair cells play an essential role in the amplification of sound-induced vibrations within the mammalian cochlea due to their ability to contract or elongate following changes of the intracellular potential. This unique property of outer hair cells is known as electromotility. Selective efferent innervation of these cells within the organ of Corti suggests that regulation of outer hair cell electromotility may be the primary function of the efferent control in the cochlea. A number of studies demonstrate that outer hair cell electromotility is indeed modulated by the efferent neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. The effects of acetylcholine on outer hair cells include cell hyperpolarization and a decrease of the axial stiffness, both mediated by intracellular Ca²⁺. This article reviews these results and considers other potential mechanisms that may regulate electromotility, such as direct modification of the plasma membrane molecular motors, alteration of intracellular pressure, and modification of intracellular chloride concentration.

(Received 8 June 2006; accepted after revision 31 July 2006; first published online 3 August 2006)
Corresponding author G. Frolenkov: Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, MS508, Chandler Medical Center, 800 Rose Street, Lexington, KY 40536, USA. Email: gregory.frolenkov{at}uky.edu

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