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Outer hair cells in the mammalian cochlea and noise-induced hearing loss

Nature volume 315, pages 662–665 (1985)Cite this article

Abstract

Hair cells in the mammalian cochlea transduce mechanical stimuli into electrical signals leading to excitation of auditory nerve fibres1. Because of their important role in hearing, these cells are a possible site for the loss of cochlear sensitivity that follows acoustic overstimulation2,3. We have recorded from inner and outer hair cells (IHC, OHC) in the guinea pig cochlea during and after exposure to intense tones. Our results show functional changes in the hair cells that may explain the origin of noise-induced hearing loss. Both populations of hair cells show a reduction in amplitude and an increase in the symmetry of their acoustically evoked receptor potentials. In addition, the OHCs also suffer a sustained depolarization of the membrane potential. Significantly, the membrane and receptor potentials of the OHCs recover in parallel with cochlear sensitivity as measured by the IHC receptor potential amplitude and the auditory nerve threshold. Current theories of acoustic transduction4–6 suggest that the mechanical input to IHCs may be regulated by the OHCs. Consequently, the modified function of OHCs after acoustic overstimulation may determine the extent of the hearing loss following loud sound.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRC Neurophysiology Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK

    A. R. Cody & I. J. Russell

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  1. A. R. Cody
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  2. I. J. Russell
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Cody, A., Russell, I. Outer hair cells in the mammalian cochlea and noise-induced hearing loss. Nature 315, 662–665 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/315662a0

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