title: C-type potassium channels in the lateral cell membrane of guinea-pig outer hair cells.
abstract: The basolateral cell membrane of outer hair cells (OHC) from the mammalian cochlea is known to contain K(+)-channels. The prevailing type, a high-conductance K(+)-channel was further characterized in the present study in order to support its classification as C channel. OHC were isolated from the 3rd and 4th turn of the guinea-pig cochlea. Cell-attached and excised inside-out patches of the lateral cell membrane were investigated. The C-type channel had a selectivity for K+ over Na+ of 12:1 to 20:1 and displayed Goldman-type rectification and voltage-dependence of the open probability. The kinetics of both opening and closing could be described by time constants in the range of ms. The channel provides a calcium- and voltage-activated pathway through OHC lateral membranes for passive K+ transport.
authors.affiliation: HNO Hearing Research Laboratories, University of Tübingen, FRG.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Gitter
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frömter
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Zenner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels