The dominant efferent innervation of the cochlea terminates on outer h
air cells (OHCs), with acetylcholine (ACh) being its principal neurotr
ansmitter. OHCs respond with a somatic shape change to alterations in
their membrane potential, and this electromotile response is believed
to provide mechanical feedback to the basilar membrane. We examine the
effects of ACh on electromotile responses in isolated OHCs and attemp
t to deduce the mechanism of ACh action. Axial electromotile amplitude
and cell compliance increase in the presence of the ligand. This resp
onse occurs with a significantly greater latency than membrane current
and potential changes attributable to ACh and is contemporaneous with
Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. It is likely that increased a
xial compliance largely accounts for the increase in motility. The mec
hanical responses are probably related to a recently demonstrated slow
efferent effect. The implications of the present findings related to
commonly assumed efferent behavior in vivo are considered.