LVII Ultrastructural Features of the Organ of Corti

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Abstract
The ultrastruc-ture of the hair cells in the organ of Corti in cats and guinea pigs is well defined and consistent. There is a clear difference in the structural organization of inner and outer hair cells. The difference between hair cells of cats and guinea pigs are more quantitative than qualitative. The structural features may be related to the bio-electric activities of the hair cells. Two distinctly different types of nerve endings are found at the base of outer and inner hair cells. The larger, predominant type contains "synaptic vesicles" and is of efferent nature. After acoustic stimulation of moderate intensities, some structural changes arise mainly in the form of inclusions on the apical part of other hair cells and in nerve endings. The changes appear only several hours after the acoustic stimulation, when there has been almost complete recovery from TTS [temporary threshold shift]. Within the short period of TTS no significant morphological changes could be found.