Vesicle traffic in the outer hair cell

Abstract The plasma‐membrane marker FM1‐43 was employed to reveal the relative significance of different types endocytic and transcytic mechanisms in outer hair cells (OHCs) guinea‐pig cochlea. A double‐barrel local perfusion system used label independently apical or synaptic pole isolated OHC study vesicle uptake at poles trafficking along across cell. Treatment with an inhibitor macropino‐ phagocytosis, phenylarsine oxide, clathrin‐mediated activity, concanavalin A, significantly reduced dye both poles, indicating presence clathrin‐independent processes poles. However, measurement speed inhibitors suggested that contribute more extensively endocytosis basal than pole. myosin VI, 2,4,6‐triiodophenol, delayed apicobasal basoapical fluorescence signals. treatment kinesin, monastrol, dynein, ciliobrevin D, signals only direction. myosinVI inhibitor, but neither kinesin nor dynein inhibitors, subsurface cisternae. That is, VI carries vesicles longitudinal directions as well radially cisternae, whereas participate primarily trafficking. This fundamental information is essential for elucidating recycling specific proteins involved establishing, controlling maintaining electromechanical action OHCs and, therefore, vital understanding auditory perception.