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Biomedical subjects

G K Yates

Publications and source records attributed to G K Yates.

46 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Cochlear potentials in the Bronx waltzer mutant mouse.

The Bronx waltzer mutant mouse has a unique cochlear abnormality in which the outer hair cells appear normal but the inner hair cells are absent. Potentials recorded from the round window indicate that the gross cochlear nerve action potential is very small or absent and cochlear microphonics are present but of small amplitude. Positive and negative summating potentials can both be recorded, indicating that mammalian outer hair cells are capable of producing both positive and negative DC potentials.

Animals↗

A sensitive optoelectronic displacement transducer for the neurophysiological laboratory.

This paper describes a simple and convenient way of making a sensitive displacement transducer for routine use in the neurophysiological laboratory. It is based upon a commercially available optoelectronic integrated circuit and requires only simple electronic and mechanical fabrication. Its sensitivity is such that it may be used to monitor movements down to approximately 100 nm over a bandwidth of 8 kHz without additional filtering or averaging. Further electronic filtering or computer averaging will extend its sensitivity. It has many potential uses, two examples of which are provided.

Animals↗

Bone conduction mechanisms: Mössbauer measurements on the role of ossicular inertia.

The Mössbauer technique was used to measure displacements of the stapes footplate and adjacent temporal bone during bone conduction stimulation at frequencies from 250 to 400 Hz in anaesthetized guinea pigs. The stapes was found not to be driven at amplitudes or phases that differed significantly from those of the temporal bone. Measurement of stapes displacements during air conduction stimulation, and of temporal bone displacements during bone conduction stimulation producing matching cochlear microphonic amplitude, enabled calculation of limiting values of amplitude and phase difference necessary to produce the required relative displacement. The obtained values (less than 1 dB for amplitude and 1--4 degrees for phase) were beyond the resolution of the measurement system employed for reasonable nuclear counting times. The results provide quantitative estimates of the magnitude of inertial effects, but do not establish whether ossicular inertia is an important factor in bone conduction stimulation.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Cochlear action potential threshold and single unit thresholds.

There is a close correlation between the sound pressure of tone burst required to affect a primary auditory neuron at its characteristic frequency and that which will produce a detectable N1 response at the same frequency. Units with thresholds from 80--0 db SPL (recorded from damaged and undamaged cochleas) were 0--20 dB , respectively, more sensitive than the action potential response.

Action Potentials↗

4-aminopyridine in scala media reversibly alters the cochlear potentials and suppresses electrically evoked oto-acoustic emissions.

Iontophoresis of 4-aminopyridine into scala media of the guinea pig cochlea caused elevation of the thresholds of the compound action potential of the auditory nerve, loss of amplitude of the extracellular cochlear microphonic response (CM), increase in the endocochlear potential (EP) and reduction in the amplitude of electrically evoked oto-acoustic emissions (EEOAEs). These changes were reversible over 10-20 min. The reciprocity of the changes in the CM and the EP was consistent with an interruption of both DC and AC currents through outer hair cells (OHCs), probably by blockade of mechano-electrical transduction (MET) channels in OHCs. Reductions in EEOAEs were consistent with the extrinsically applied generating current entering the OHC via the MET channels. Implications for the activation of OHC electromotility in vivo are discussed.

4-Aminopyridine↗