Biomedical subjects

Dennis M Freeman

Publications and source records attributed to Dennis M Freeman.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Poroelastic bulk properties of the tectorial membrane measured with osmotic stress.

The equilibrium stress-strain relation and the pore radius of the isolated tectorial membrane (TM) of the mouse were determined. Polyethylene glycol (PEG), with molecular mass (MM) in the range 20-511 kDa, added to the TM bathing solution was used to exert an osmotic pressure. Strain on the TM induced by isosmotic PEG solutions of different molecular masses was approximately the same for MM > or = 200 kDa. However, for MM < or = 100 kDa, the TM strain was appreciably smaller. We infer that for the smaller molecular mass, PEG entered the TM and exerted a smaller effective osmotic pressure. The pore radius of the TM was estimated as 22 nm. The equilibrium stress-strain relation of the TM was measured using PEG with a molecular mass of 511 kDa. This relation was nonlinear and was fit with a power function. In the radial cochlear direction, the transverse stiffness of the TM was 20% stiffer in the inner than in the outer region. TM segments from the basal region had a larger transverse stiffness on average compared to sections from the apical-middle region. These measurements provide a quantitative basis for a poroelastic model of the TM.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Two modes of motion of the alligator lizard cochlea: measurements and model predictions.

Measurements of motion of an in vitro preparation of the alligator lizard basilar papilla in response to sound demonstrate elliptical trajectories. These trajectories are consistent with the presence of both a translational and rotational mode of motion. The translational mode is independent of frequency, and the rotational mode has a displacement peak near 5 kHz. These measurements can be explained by a simple mechanical system in which the basilar papilla is supported asymmetrically on the basilar membrane. In a quantitative model, the translational admittance is compliant while the rotational admittance is second order. Best-fit model parameters are consistent with estimates based on anatomy and predict that fluid flow across hair bundles is a primary source of viscous damping. The model predicts that the rotational mode contributes to the high-frequency slopes of auditory nerve fiber tuning curves, providing a physical explanation for a low-pass filter required in models of this cochlea. The combination of modes makes the sensitivity of hair bundles more uniform with radial position than that which would result from pure rotation. A mechanical analogy with the organ of Corti suggests that these two modes of motion may also be present in the mammalian cochlea.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Sound-induced motions of individual cochlear hair bundles.

We present motions of individual freestanding hair bundles in an isolated cochlea in response to tonal sound stimulation. Motions were measured from images taken by strobing a light source at the tone frequency. The tips and bases of hair bundles moved a comparable amount, but with a phase difference that increased by 180 degrees with frequency, indicating that distributed fluid properties drove hair bundle motion. Hair bundle rotation increased with frequency to a constant value, and underwent >90 degrees of phase change. The frequency at which the phase of rotation relative to deflection of the bundle base was 60 degrees was comparable to the expected best frequency of each hair cell, and varied inversely with the square of bundle height. The sharpness of tuning of individual hair bundles was comparable to that of hair cell receptor potentials at high sound levels. These results indicate that frequency selectivity at high sound levels in this cochlea is purely mechanical, determined by the interaction of hair bundles with the surrounding fluid. The sharper tuning of receptor potentials at lower sound levels is consistent with the presence of a negative damping, but not a negative stiffness, as an active amplifier in hair bundles.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

PubMed2004

Reflective acousto-optic modulation with surface acoustic waves.

A reflective optical modulator based on acousto-optic modulation of light by a mirror corrugated with surface acoustic waves is presented. Modulation of optical amplitude, frequency, and phase is demonstrated at visible (633- and 488-nm) and deep UV (244-nm) wavelengths. The reflective modulator has eight channels and achieves a maximum first-order diffraction efficiency of 6.0%.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Static material properties of the tectorial membrane: a summary.

The tectorial membrane (TM) is a polyelectrolyte gel. Hence, its chemical, electrical, mechanical, and osmotic properties are inextricably linked. We review, integrate, and interpret recent findings on these properties in isolated TM preparations. The dimensions of the TM in alligator lizard, chick, and mouse are sensitive to bath ion concentrations of constituents normally present in the cochlear fluids - an increase in calcium concentration shrinks the TM, and an increase in sodium concentration swells the TM in a manner that depends competitively on the calcium concentration. The sodium-induced swelling is specific; it does not occur with other alkali metal cations. We interpret these findings as due to competitive binding of sodium and calcium to TM macromolecules which causes a change in their conformation that leads to a change in mechanical properties. In mouse TM, decreasing the bath pH below 6 or increasing it above 7 results in swelling of the TM. Electric potential measurements are consistent with the notion that the swelling is caused by a pH-driven increase in positive fixed charge at low pH and an increase in the magnitude of the negative fixed charge at high pH which is consistent with the known protonation pattern of TM macromolecules. Increasing the osmotic pressure of the bathing solution with polyethylene glycol shrinks the TM and decreasing the ionic strength of the bathing solution swells the TM. Both results are qualitatively consistent with predictions of a polyelectrolyte gel model of the TM.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Dynamic material properties of the tectorial membrane: a summary.

Dynamic material properties of the tectorial membrane (TM) have been measured at audio frequencies in TMs excised from the apical portions of mouse cochleae. We review, integrate, and interpret recent findings. The mechanical point impedance of the TM in the radial, longitudinal, and transverse directions is viscoelastic and has a frequency dependence of the form 1/(K(j2pif)(alpha)) for 10<or=f<or=4000 Hz, where f is frequency, K is a constant, j=-1, and alpha approximately 0.66. Comparison with other connective tissues shows that the TM is a relatively lossy viscoelastic material. The median magnitudes of the point impedance at 10 Hz in the radial, longitudinal, and transverse directions are 4.6 x 10(-3) N.s/m, 1.8 x 10(-3) N.s/m, and 2.7 x 10(-3) N.s/m. Consistent with osmotic responses (Freeman et al., 2003), the TM point impedance is anisotropic - the TM is stiffer in the radial than in the longitudinal and transverse directions. The mechanical space constant of the TM is approximately 20 microm. Comparisons reveal that in the apical region of the mouse cochlea, the TM dynamic stiffness at 10 Hz is 10 times larger than the static stiffness of the aggregate hair cells in a mechanical space constant and roughly comparable to the stiffness of the basilar membrane. We conclude that the TM provides a mechanical load on the basilar membrane and that the lability of the TM to changes in endolymph composition may well be reflected in changes in basilar membrane motion.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Doppler optical coherence microscopy for studies of cochlear mechanics.

The possibility of measuring subnanometer motions with micron scale spatial resolution in the intact mammalian cochlea using Doppler optical coherence microscopy (DOCM) is demonstrated. A novel DOCM system is described that uses two acousto-optic modulators to generate a stable 500-kHz heterodyne frequency. Images and motion measurements are obtained using phase-resolved analysis of the interference signal. The DOCM system permits imaging with micron-scale resolution and 85-dB sensitivity and motion measurements with 100-kHz bandwidth, directional discrimination, and 30-pm/Hz(0.5) noise floor. Images and motion measurements are presented that demonstrate the ability to resolve motions of structures of interest in a mammalian cochlea in vitro including the basilar membrane, reticular lamina, tectorial membrane, and outer hair cells.

Animals↗