A colloid perspective of hair cell cilia: a selective literature review

Cilia of hair cells are structurally similar to unilaminar phospholipid vesicles. The close juxtaposition of adjacent cilia is similar to the intervesicle distances found in groups of vesicles. Both cilia and vesicles operate in similar ionic environments. By comparing the cross section of cilia, which are cylinders with the cross section of vesicles, which are spherical, we can see how colloid theory can be applied to both cilia and vesicles. While vesicles have been studied as colloid particles, thus far colloid theory has not been applied to hair cell cilia. This paper presents a basic explanation of colloid theory in a simple graphic form that facilitates a colloid perspective of hair cell cilia behavior. A review of relevant hair cell cilia behavior supports the hypothesis that colloid knowledge is applicable to the problem of understanding cilia functionality in the hair cell. The electromagnetic nature of colloid forces allows for their involvement in the relatively high speed operation required of hair cells which are dealing with signals of up to 2×10⁵ Hz. A fresh look at the biophysics of the hair cell from a colloid perspective may lower the barrier to a closer understanding of active mechanical sensory transduction, amplification and adaptation, and suggest a new domain for the application of colloid theory.