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M-like K+ currents in type I hair cells and calyx afferent endings of the developing rat utricle.

ABSTRACT: Type I vestibular hair cells have large K+ currents that, like neuronal M currents, activate negative to resting potential and are modulatable. In rodents, these currents are acquired postnatally. In perforated-patch recordings from rat utricular hair cells, immature hair cells [younger than postnatal day 7 (P7)] had a steady-state K+ conductance (g(-30)) with a half-activation voltage (V1/2) of -30 mV. The size and activation range did not change in maturing type II cells, but, by P16, type I cells had added a K conductance that was on average fourfold larger and activated much more negatively. This conductance may comprise two components: g(-60) (V1/2 of -60 mV) and g(-80) (V1/2 of -80 mV). g(-80) washed out during ruptured patch recordings and was blocked by a protein kinase inhibitor. M currents can include contributions from KCNQ and ether-a-go-go-related (erg) channels. KCNQ and erg channel blockers both affected the K+ currents of type I cells, with KCNQ blockers being more potent at younger than P7 and erg blockers more potent at older than P16. Single-cell reverse transcription-PCR and immunocytochemistry showed expression of KCNQ and erg subunits. We propose that KCNQ channels contribute to g(-30) and g(-60) and erg subunits contribute to g(-80). Type I hair cells are contacted by calyceal afferent endings. Recordings from dissociated calyces and afferent endings revealed large K+ conductances, including a KCNQ conductance. Calyx endings were strongly labeled by KCNQ4 and erg1 antisera. Thus, both hair cells and calyx endings have large M-like K+ conductances with the potential to control the gain of transmission.

SUBMITTER: Hurley KM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6674627 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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M-like K+ currents in type I hair cells and calyx afferent endings of the developing rat utricle.

Hurley Karen M KM Gaboyard Sophie S Zhong Meng M Price Steven D SD Wooltorton Julian R A JR Lysakowski Anna A Eatock Ruth Anne RA

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience 20061001 40

Type I vestibular hair cells have large K+ currents that, like neuronal M currents, activate negative to resting potential and are modulatable. In rodents, these currents are acquired postnatally. In perforated-patch recordings from rat utricular hair cells, immature hair cells [younger than postnatal day 7 (P7)] had a steady-state K+ conductance (g(-30)) with a half-activation voltage (V1/2) of -30 mV. The size and activation range did not change in maturing type II cells, but, by P16, type I c ...[more]

PMID: 17021181

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Dataset Information

M-like K+ currents in type I hair cells and calyx afferent endings of the developing rat utricle.

Publications

M-like K+ currents in type I hair cells and calyx afferent endings of the developing rat utricle.

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