TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENCE OF A FAST MOTILE RESPONSE IN ISOLATED OUTER HAIR CELLS OF THE GUINEA-PIG COCHLEA

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Abstract
Isolated outer hair cells (OHC) of the cochlea exhibit a motility which can be driven at acoustic frequencies (Ashmore, 1987). The temperature-dependence on the movement is reported here for the range 20-37.degree.C. OHC are shown to be motile at 37.degree.C. The temperature-dependence is quite weak, with Q10 = 1.33. The observation is difficult to reconcile with mechanisms involving an intermediate biochemical messenger, including those based on actomyosin.