Analysis by a new imaging system for three-dimensional detection of nanoscale vibrations in the inner ear

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H05683
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Otorhinolaryngology
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: Nin Fumiaki 新潟大学, 医歯学系, 准教授 (80644905)
• Research Collaborator: 日比野 浩 新潟大学, 医学部 分子生理学, 教授 ; 崔 森悦 新潟大学, 工学部 電気電子工学科, 助教 ; Lecture Tobias Reichenbach インペリアルカレッジ
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: ナノ微小振動 / 蝸牛 / 感覚上皮帯 / 内耳

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have developed an imaging system that can detect the object’s nano-scale vibrations. In addition, we succeeded to record a baseline shift of the vibration by a newly derived laser interferometer. Based on the recorded data, we hypothesized that the vibrations depend on the hair cells’ function, and performed mathematical simulation of the sensory epithelia. Lastly, we confirmed the hypothesis by the experiments in which we used animals and applied some drugs in vivo. These results not only show the new mechanism for the vibration of the sensory epithelia, but also found that the mechanism are related to the hari cells’ function for the first time.

Free Research Field

聴覚生理学