8. THE LATERAL LINE ORGAN MECHANORECEPTORS
251
geous therefore to increase the signal-to-noise ratio by averaging with a
computer.
B. Properties of the Receptor Potential
Several criteria indicate that this is a true biological potential and no
epiphenomenon to mechanical motion of the electrode or the tissue, one
is the fact that methylene blue abolishes the response reversibly when
applied in the vicinity of the cupula while it leaves the resting potential
of the cell unchanged. The response reappears when the methylene blue
is washed away. The receptor potential is highly directional. If the direction of stimulus displacement is rotated 360" around the compass rose
the receptor potential in canal organ hair cells varies as a cosine function
A
Fig. 10. Traces A and B are receptor potentials recorded intracellularly from
two different hair cells in the canal organ of Lota h a . They are seen to be 180° out
of phase, Time scale is at the bottom, above this is the stimulus driving voltage.
251
geous therefore to increase the signal-to-noise ratio by averaging with a
computer.
B. Properties of the Receptor Potential
Several criteria indicate that this is a true biological potential and no
epiphenomenon to mechanical motion of the electrode or the tissue, one
is the fact that methylene blue abolishes the response reversibly when
applied in the vicinity of the cupula while it leaves the resting potential
of the cell unchanged. The response reappears when the methylene blue
is washed away. The receptor potential is highly directional. If the direction of stimulus displacement is rotated 360" around the compass rose
the receptor potential in canal organ hair cells varies as a cosine function
A
Fig. 10. Traces A and B are receptor potentials recorded intracellularly from
two different hair cells in the canal organ of Lota h a . They are seen to be 180° out
of phase, Time scale is at the bottom, above this is the stimulus driving voltage.