Journal article
Col11a2 Deletion Reveals the Molecular Basis for Tectorial Membrane Mechanical Anisotropy
Biophysical journal, Vol.96(11), pp.4717-4724
06/03/2009
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2009.02.056
PMCID: PMC2711449
PMID: 19486694
Abstract
The tectorial membrane (TM) has a significantly larger stiffness in the radial direction than other directions, a prominent mechanical anisotropy that is believed to be critical for the proper functioning of the cochlea. To determine the molecular basis of this anisotropy, we measured material properties of TMs from mice with a targeted deletion of
Col11a2
, which encodes for collagen XI. In light micrographs, the density of TM radial collagen fibers was lower in
Col11a2
–/– mice than wild-types. Tone-evoked distortion product otoacoustic emission and auditory brainstem response measurements in
Col11a2
–/– mice were reduced by 30–50 dB independent of frequency as compared with wild-types, showing that the sensitivity loss is cochlear in origin. Stress-strain measurements made using osmotic pressure revealed no significant dependence of TM bulk compressibility on the presence of collagen XI. Charge measurements made by placing the TM as an electrical conduit between two baths revealed no change in the density of charge affixed to the TM matrix in
Col11a2
–/– mice. Measurements of mechanical shear impedance revealed a 5.5 ± 0.8 dB decrease in radial shear impedance and a 3.3 ± 0.3 dB decrease in longitudinal shear impedance resulting from the
Col11a2
deletion. The ratio of radial to longitudinal shear impedance fell from 1.8 ± 0.7 for TMs from wild-type mice to 1.0 ± 0.1 for those from
Col11a2
–/– mice. These results show that the organization of collagen into radial fibrils is responsible for the mechanical anisotropy of the TM. This anisotropy can be attributed to increased mechanical coupling provided by the collagen fibrils. Mechanisms by which changes in TM material properties may contribute to the threshold elevation in
Col11a2
–/– mice are discussed.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Col11a2 Deletion Reveals the Molecular Basis for Tectorial Membrane Mechanical Anisotropy
- Creators
- Kinuko Masaki - Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MassachusettsJianwen Wendy Gu - Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MassachusettsRoozbeh Ghaffari - Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MassachusettsGary Chan - Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MassachusettsRichard J.H Smith - Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IowaDennis M Freeman - Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MassachusettsA.J Aranyosi - Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Biophysical journal, Vol.96(11), pp.4717-4724
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.bpj.2009.02.056
- PMID
- 19486694
- PMCID
- PMC2711449
- NLM abbreviation
- Biophys J
- ISSN
- 0006-3495
- eISSN
- 1542-0086
- Publisher
- The Biophysical Society
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/03/2009
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Molecular Physiology and Biophysics; Anatomy and Cell Biology; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Otolaryngology; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984007191302771
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