Charge displacement induced by rapid stretch in the basolateral membrane of the guinea-pig outer hair cell

The properties of the basolateral membrane of cochlear outer hair cells were studied under whole-cell patch clamp to measure currents and capacitance changes associated with mechanical deformation. Stretching the membrane of outer hair cells along the cell axis generated a transient inward current, and subsequent relaxation of the membrane produced a similar transient outward current. These mechanically activated currents were velocity dependent with a mean sensitivity of 29 pA s mm-1. Unlike ionic currents, these currents did not reverse, but reached a peak magnitude at —33 mV. Stretching the cell also resulted in a measurable capacitance decrease of 0.3—1.1 pF μm-1. These results suggest that membrane stretch can induce a rapid charge movement resulting from the reversal of the electromechanical transduction process in outer hair cells.

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