Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C R Steele

Publications and source records attributed to C R Steele.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Electrokinetic model of cochlear hair cell motility.

Recent experiments have shown that isolated outer hair cells of the cochlea can vibrate under the influence of a transcellular oscillating electric field. Since high voltages have been measured in the cochlea, this result might suggest a basis for electromechanical feedback. A mechanical model of the hair cell has been developed and adapted to test the electrokinetic theory of motility, a postulate of which is that cochlear voltage gradients act on charged proteins embedded in the cell membrane to deform the cell. From the model it was deduced that the amount of charge density required is within the physiologic range. The significant result is that the amplitude of cell elongation for a fixed voltage amplitude is virtually constant for frequency less than a certain cutoff. The value of this frequency depends on the various physical parameters of the system and especially on the spacing between cells. Power transfer to the basilar membrane appears to peak near the cutoff frequency, and the amount is not very dependent on cell length, but is highly dependent on cell spacing.

Animals↗

Functional capacity of marginated and bone marrow reserve granulocytes.

Marginated and bone marrow reserve granulocytes were obtained from young healthy volunteers after subcutaneous administration of aqueous epinephrine (0.4 ml/m2) or intravenous administration of hydrocortisone sodium succinate (250 mg), respectively. These leukocytes were compared with circulating granulocytes for the ability to adhere to surfaces, migrate in a random fashion, respond to chemoattractants, interact with autologous serum opsonins, and phagocytize and kill five common bacterial pathogens. As contrasted with circulating neutrophils, marginated cells had enhanced phagocytic and killing capacity for some pathogens, whereas adherence, random migration, chemotaxis, and chemiluminescence for the two cell populations were equivalent. Bone marrow reserve cells demonstrated increased activity for three functional mechanisms; chemotaxis for these cells averaged 21% higher than that for circulating cells, and phagocytosis was 32% higher, with 6 to 17% greater killing of the five bacterial species studied. All of these differences were statistically significant (P less than 0.05). Random migration and interaction with serum opsonins were unchanged in bone marrow granulocytes. These enhanced functional properties of neutrophils which are outside of the circulating pool may represent important host defense mechanisms during episodes of bacterial infection.

Bacteria↗

Leukocyte survival in cerebrospinal fluid.

Delays in the laboratory examination of cerebrospinal fluid are commonly encountered in clinical medicine. The present studies were designed to evaluate changes in cerebrospinal fluid leukocyte counts relative to time elapsed before analysis. Neutrophil counts decreased most rapidly, being 68 +/- 10% (standard error of the mean) and 50 +/- 12% of initial values at 1 and 2 h, respectively. Lymphocyte and monocyte numbers were not significantly altered until 3 h.

Cell Survival↗

Effect of coiling in a cochlear model.

Transformation of the three-dimensional equations of fluid motion into cylindrical coordinates allowed analysis of a coiled cochlear model by the WKB technique. The model includes a single transverse mode of basilar membrane deflection and inviscid fluid. The results calculated using realistic parameters for the guinea pig show no significant difference in the basilar membrane amplitude and phase between the straight and coiled models. Some differences exist in the fluid pressure found in the scala. The conclusion is that the macromechanical response is not significantly affected by coiling.

Acoustics↗

Effect of opening and draining the cochlea.

The WKB approximation was used in calculations of the pure-tone response of a two-dimensional inviscid model of the human cochlea and a three-dimensional inviscid model of the guinea pig cochlea. The common experimental procedure of opening the scala tympani was simulated. Basilar membrane displacement was unaffected at and beyond the peak, but was slightly lower pre-peak. The peak location shifted to a significant extent apically only when the fluid level in the scala tympani was lowered to less than 1/10 of normal depth.

Animals↗

Tibial changes in experimental disuse osteoporosis in the monkey.

We studied the mechanical properties and structural changes in the monkey tibia with disuse osteoporosis and during subsequent recovery. Bone bending stiffness was evaluated in relationship to microscopic changes in cortical bone and Norland bone mineral analysis. Restraint in the semireclined position produced regional losses of bone most obviously in the anterior-proximal tibiae. Following 6 months of restraint, the greatest losses of bone mineral in the proximal tibiae ranged from 23% to 31%; the largest changes in bone stiffness ranged from 36% to 40%. Approximately 8 1/2 months of recovery were required for restoration of normal bending properties. However, even after 15 months of recovery, bone mineral content did not necessarily return to normal levels. Histologically, resorption cavities in cortical bone were seen within 1 month of restraint; by 2 1/2 months of restraint there were large resorption cavities subperiosteally, endosteally, and intracortically. After 15 months of recovery, the cortex consisted mainly of first-generation haversian systems. After 40 months, the cortex appeared normal with numerous secondary and tertiary generations of haversian systems.

Animals↗

Three-dimensional model calculations for guinea pig cochlea.

The WKB approximation was used for calculations of the pure tone response of a straight box model of the guinea pig cochlea with square scale cross sections and the fluid density and viscosity of water. Only one mode of elastic deformation of the partition was considered, corresponding to a flexible pectinate zone of the basilar membrane (BM) with rigid bony shelf, arches, and spiral ligament. Four distributions of pectinate zone transverse bending stiffness were considered, corresponding to volume compliances: (1) CB, measured by Békésy in the guinea pig post mortem, (2) CB/4, (3) CPL, deduced from Békésy's point load measurements in a human, with BM thickness inversely proportional to the width and rescaled for the guinea pig, and (4) 10CPL. We also considered various values of the relative longitudinal stiffness of the basilar membrane and the condition of drained or filled scala tympani. When compared to in vivo and post-mortem measurements of the guinea pig, the model results lead to the conjecture that the transverse fibers of the basilar membrane decrease in stiffness with time post mortem, while the ground substance increases in stiffness. Calculations using the compliance CB/4, with the ST drained with zero longitudinal BM stiffness give a response similar in location, peak shape, and phase to the in vivo capacitance probe measurements of Wilson and Johnstone [J., Acoust. Soc. Am 57, 705--23 (1975)]. Calculations for the ST filled and closed show a BM amplitude similar in location and shape to the spiral ganglion cell threshold curves obtained by Robertson and Johnstone [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 57, 466--469 (1979)] from abnormal cochleas without outer hair cells. This indicates that the normal peak neural stimulation occurs about 1 mm apical of the BM peak amplitude. Naturally, the discrepancies between the postulated physical model and the cochlea prevent firm conclusions about cochlear function.

Animals↗

Cochlear model including three-dimensional fluid and four modes of partition flexibility.

The WKB solution is developed for the analysis of a straight box cochlear model which includes four modes of partition displacement, simulating the motion of the bony shelf and arches of Corti, as well as the pectinate zone of the basilar membrane. The theory is similar to that previously used for the 1-mode model with scalar quantities now replaced by 4-vectors. Calculations are carried out for the guinea pig cochlea with stiffness computed mainly from the anatomy and assumed physiological values for the materials. Results show that the stiffness is such that the amplitude and phase of the basilar membrane response are not significantly altered from those given by the 1-mode model. For primates and some other mammals, the bony shelf is substantially weaker than in the guinea pig and causes a much more rapid accumulation of phase along the basilar membrane. Thus, with anatomically and physiologically consistent parameters, the model yields good correlation in phase and amplitude with the in vivo measurements which have been made in the squirrel monkey by Rhode [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 64, 158-176 (1978)] as well as in the guinea pig by Wilson and Johnstone [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 57, 705-723 (1975)] and Rhode [Basic Mechanisms in Hearing (Academic, New York, 1973), pp. 49-63].

Animals↗

An improved WKB calculation for a two-dimensional cochlear model.

The finite difference calculations of Neely [E.D. thesis, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA (1977)] and the WKB solution of Steele and Taber [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 65, 1001-1006 (1979)] generally agree, except in the "phase plateau" region, where both are irregular. In the present work, an improvement in the accuracy of the WKB procedure is gained by using a closed-form integral which gives the phase and damping functions in the short wavelength region. The present results agree qualitatively with the preceding but show a smooth variation with frequency and distance along the cochlea.

Cochlea↗

Noninvasive measures of bone bending rigidity in the monkey (M. nemestrina).

The in vivo bending rigidity and bone mineral content of monkey ulnae and tibiae were measured. Bending rigidity in the anteroposterior plane was measured by an impedance probe technique. Forced vibrations of the bones were induced with an electromechanical shaker, and force and velocity at the driving point were determined. The responses over the range of 100-250 Hz were utilized to compute the bending rigidity. Bone mineral content in the cross section was determined by a photon absorption technique. Seventeen male monkeys (Macaca nemestrina) weighing 6-14 kg were evaluated. Repeatability of the rigidity measures was 4%. Bone mineral content was measured with a precision of 3.5%. Bending rigidity was correlated with the mineral content of the cross section, r = 0.899. Two monkeys were evaluated during prolonged hypodynamic restraint. Restraint produced regional losses of bone most obviously in the proximal tibia. Local bone mineral content declines 17 to 24% and the average bending rigidity declines 12 to 22%. Changes in bones leading to a reduction in mineral content and stiffness are discussed.

Animals↗

Comparison of WKB and finite difference calculations for a two-dimensional cochlear model.

There are many points of uncertainty in the subject of cochlear models. In this paper only the question of efficient computing methods is addressed. For the cochlear model with a one-dimensional approximation for the fluid motion, Zweig, Lipes, and Pierce [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 59, 975-982 (1976)] have shown that the WKB method agrees well with a direct numerical integration. For the two-dimensional fluid model, Neely [E.D. thesis, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA (1977)] has shown that a direct finite difference solution is an order of magnitude faster than the integral equation approach used by Allen [J. Acoust. Soc. Am 61, 110-119 (1977)]. In the present work, a formal WKB solution is derived following Whitham [Linear and Nonlinear Waves (Wiley, New York, 1974)]. The advantage of this formulation is simplicity, but the disadvantage is that no error estimate is available. We find that the numerical results from the WKB solution agree well with those of Neely (1977), while the computer time is reduced by another order of magnitude. Thus, the WKB method seems to offer the satisfactory accuracy, efficiency, and flexibility for treating the more realistic cochlear models.

Cochlea↗

Comparison of WKB calculations and experimental results for three-dimensional cochlear models.

The WKB asymptotic method is applied to the calculation of cochlear models with square scala cross section, for which the fluid motion is fully three dimensional. The analysis begins with the exact solution for wave propagation in a duct with constant properties. This solution is somewhat tedious but straightforward, since it requires a Fourier series expansion across the duct. Then with the formulation of Whitham [Linear and Nonlinear Waves (Wiley, New York, 1974)], the approximate solution is readily generated for the duct with properties which vary slowly along the length. Numerical calculations are carried out for the experimental models of Cannel [Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Warwick (1969)] and Helle [Dr.-Ing. disser., Technische Univ., Müchen (1974)] who furnish quantitative details of both "basilar membrane" response and model parameters. Without any free parameters for adjusting, the present WKB solution shows quite satisfactory agreement with the experimental model results. Computer time is reasonable; the calculation of displacement envelope and phase at a number of stations along the cochlea for a given frequency requires only one second of CPU time. Thus the credibility and practically of the approach is established for the investigation of yet more realistic and more elaborate cochlear models.

Cochlea↗

Cochlear model with three-dimensional fluid, inner sulcus and feed-forward mechanism.

A three-dimensional model of the guinea pig cochlea using the phase-integral method is presented. This model incorporates the viscous fluid effects in the cochlea, dimensional and material property variation along the cochlear duct and the active feed-forward mechanism of the outer hair cells. Two degrees of freedom of the basilar membrane are considered, which results in two traveling waves propagating along the duct for a given frequency. Basilar membrane response with the active feed-forward mechanism compares favorably with published experimental measurements.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Toward three-dimensional analysis of cochlear structure.

Recent results from a three-dimensional model of the cochlea are summarized. The features include physically realistic values of basilar membrane stiffness, mass, and fluid viscosity. The simple 'feed-forward' principle for the active process yields results in qualitative agreement with recent measurements in the cochlea. The limitation is a simplified representation of the organ of Corti, with two degrees of freedom representing the motion of the pectinate and arcuate zones of the basilar membrane. However, the inner sulcus fluid flow is included. The new feature presented in this paper is an approach to treat all the structural detail of the organ of Corti, with the sole input to the calculation in a form easily understood by anyone familiar with the cochlea. Specific results are shown for the Pakistani water buffalo, since a fairly complete anatomical description of this cochlea is available. The static stiffness from the calculation, based on only the anatomy and known values for the protein elastic moduli, are in remarkable agreement with recent measurements in the gerbil cochlea. Only preliminary results for the dynamic response with inviscid fluid are reported. Of interest, however, are the propagation modes related to significant fluid displacement and pressure in the different compartments of the organ of Corti.

Animals↗