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. 2016:1427:449-62.
doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3615-1_24.

Optical Coherence Tomography to Measure Sound-Induced Motions Within the Mouse Organ of Corti In Vivo

Zina Jawadi  1 , Brian E Applegate  2 , John S Oghalai  3
Affiliations

Optical Coherence Tomography to Measure Sound-Induced Motions Within the Mouse Organ of Corti In Vivo

Zina Jawadi et al. Methods Mol Biol. 2016.

Abstract

The measurement of mechanical vibrations within the living cochlea is critical to understanding the first nonlinear steps in auditory processing, hair cell stimulation, and cochlear amplification. However, it has proven to be a challenging endeavor. This chapter describes how optical coherence tomography (OCT) can be used to measure vibrations within the tissues of the organ of Corti. These experimental measurements can be performed within the unopened cochlea of living mice routinely and reliably.

Keywords: Basilar membrane; Biomechanics; Cochlear mechanics; In vivo imaging; Sound encoding; Tectorial membrane; Vibrometry.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Our experimental setup containing the VOCTV system
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Surgical instruments: battery-operated cautery tool, forceps, glue, head holder, needle, one cotton ball, one small gauze pad, rongeur, scalpel, and scissors
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Mouse anesthetic monitoring form
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Surgical exposure of the mouse cochlear apex. (a) The anesthetized mouse is placed in the head holder. (b) The head is glued to the head holder to provide rigid fixation. (c) The ventral approach to the tympanic bulla. The masseter muscle is noted (arrow). (d) The tympanic bulla has been exposed. The tympanic annulus (arrow) defines the attachment of the tympanic membrane. (e) After opening the bulla, the cochlea (arrow) is barely visible on the floor of the middle ear cavity
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
B-scans of the cochlear apex. (a) This image demonstrates poor dispersion compensation. Reflections at the boundary between the air and the otic capsule bone are particularly noticeable (arrow). (b) A B-scan after application of appropriate dispersion compensation. Scala Vestibuli (SV), Scala Media (SM), Scala Tympani (ST), Tectorial Membrane (TM), Basilar Membrane (BM). Scale bar 100 μm
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Vibratory responses. (a) A single point tuning curve from the mouse basilar membrane. (b)ABM scan from the mouse organ of Corti. Only magnitude data are shown in these representative examples. Reproduced from Ref. [18] with permission
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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