A two-chambered experimental apparatus for the Mongolian gerbil cochlea

• Main Author: Patel, Rikin Vasudev
• Language: en_US
• Published: Boston University 2018
• Subjects: Mongolian gerbil; Cochlea; In vivo
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/2144/32044

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University === PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at [e-mail]. Thank you. === There are two types of extracellular fluid in the cochlea: the endolymph of the scala media and the perilymph of the scala vestibuli and scala tympani. Cochlear endolymph and perilymph have different compositions, and the concentration gradient of solutes across the cochlear partition is actively maintained in vivo. In experiments involving fresh cochleas that have been dissected to allow access to the cochlear partition, the cochlea is generally placed in a single medium that aims to nourish the cochlear cells. However, the dissection usually disrupts the separation of endolymph and perilymph across the organ of Corti, the organ in the cochlear partition that contains the auditory sensory cells. Separating the fluids across the cochlear partition during experiments involving dissected cochleas would allow for more physiologically relevant observations to be made. This work was aimed at creating a two-chambered device for holding excised Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) cochlear preparations during in vitro electrical stimulation experiments. Primarily, this device creates experimental conditions that more closely mimic the in vivo physiologic conditions found within the gerbil cochlea by isolating the endolymph medium and perilymph medium bathing the opposing surfaces of the organ of Corti. The device also provides a means to electrically stimulate the organ of Corti and allows for imaging of the response to stimulation. The ability of the device to seal endolymph medium from perilymph medium is shown via electrical resistance measurements between the chambers. The imaging of hair cell motion during electrical stimulation is also demonstrated. === 2031-01-02