Abstract
By means of the freeze-fracture technique, the membrane specialization of the cochlear hair cell of guinea pigs was studied. Periodically aggregated particles were revealed on the PF face of the plasma membrane of the outer hair cell. The particles were around 12nm in diameter and 10 to 17nm in center-to-center spacing. Their arragement was hexagonal, orthogonal or parallel. Possible involvement of this structure in the electrical excitability of the membrane was discussed.
