Rapid responses of the cupula in the lateral line of ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus)

B Curcic-Blake, SM van Netten*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)
55 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Displacements of cupulae in the supraorbital lateral line canal in ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus) have been measured using laser interferometry and by applying transient as well as sinusoidal fluid stimuli in the lateral line canal. The cupular displacement in response to impulses of fluid velocity shows damped oscillations at approximately 120 Hz and a relaxation time-constant of 4.4 ms, commensurate with a quality factor of approximately 1.8. These values are in close agreement with the frequency characteristics determined via sinusoidal fluid stimuli, implying that the nonlinearity of cupular dynamics imposed by the gating apparatus of the sensory hair cells is limited in the range of cupular displacements and velocities measured (100-300 nm; 100-300 mu m/s). The measurements also show that cupular displacement instantaneously follows the initial waveform of transient stimuli. The functional significance of the observed cupular dynamics is

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)393-401
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of comparative physiology a-Neuroethology sensory neural and behavioral physiology
Volume191
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr-2005

Keywords

  • lateral line
  • cupula
  • mechanical impulse response
  • hair cells
  • laser interferometry
  • HAIR-CELLS
  • MOTTLED SCULPIN
  • COTTUS-BAIRDI
  • FISH
  • ORGAN
  • ADAPTATION
  • EXCITATION
  • MECHANICS
  • BEHAVIOR

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