Mj. Mulroy et al., GAP JUNCTIONAL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN HAIR-CELLS, SUPPORTING CELLS AND NERVES IN A VESTIBULAR ORGAN, Hearing research, 71(1-2), 1993, pp. 98-105
The pattern of gap-junctional connections between cells in the vestibu
lar neuroepithelium of the posterior semicircular duct of the alligato
r lizard are described based upon the study of freeze fracture replica
s and ultrathin sections with a transmission electron microscope. Both
type I and type II hair cells are coupled to adjacent supporting cell
s by a series of small macular gap junctions located in a ring around
the hair cell at the level of the apical circumferential belt of actin
filaments. Adjacent supporting cells are extensively interconnected b
y gap junctions. A few cases of gap junctions between afferent dendrit
es and supporting cells, and between afferent dendrites and calyceal n
erve endings were seen. These morphological observations together with
data from other studies in the literature suggest a possible role for
supporting cells in altering the micromechanical properties of the ha
ir cell receptor organs during stimulation.