TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENCE OF OUTER HAIR CELL NONLINEAR CAPACITANCE

The temperature dependence of outer hair cell motility-related gating current and capacitance was evaluated under whole-cell voltage clamp. Temperature change caused a shift of these voltage-dependent functions along the voltage axis, with a decrease in temperature causing a nega tive shift in the voltage at peak capacitance (V-pkcm) Of 19.2 mV per 10 degrees C. Gating current kinetics showed only mild temperature dep endence, the Q(10) being about 1.5. Temperature is speculated to affec t outer hair cell (OHC) mechanical gain and frequency response by alte rations in lateral membrane viscoelastic properties. Such temperature- dependent effects on the OHC may mediate known temperature effects on in vivo cochlear physiology. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B. V.