The vibration pattern of the hearing organ in the waltzing guinea-pig measured using laser heterodyne interferometry

Abstract

The mechanical tuning characteristics of the hearing organ were measured in response to sound stimulation using laser heterodyne interferometry in in vitro preparations of temporal bones from waltzing guinea-pigs expressing different degrees of hearing organ and sensory cell degeneration. Measurements were made at various stages of structural changes allowing us to correlate structure and mechanical function. It was found that the characteristic frequency of the response at a given location in the cochlea occurred at lower frequencies than what is normally seen and that the sharpness of the mechanical tuning was considerably reduced when sensory hair cells were absent and the hearing organ structurally altered. However, even when extensive hair cell degeneration was evident a residual mechanical tuning was present. These results further support the concept that the sensory hair cells plays a key role in determining normal auditory tuning characteristics. It is suggested that the basilar membrane mechanics gives rise to a broadly tuned mechanical response on which a sharper tuning mechanism, originating from the hair cells, is superimposed.