title: Potassium currents in type II vestibular hair cells isolated from the guinea-pig's crista ampullaris.
abstract: Type II vestibular hair cells were isolated from cristae ampullares of guinea-pig and maintained in vitro for 2-3 h. Outward membrane currents were studied under whole-cell voltage-clamp conditions. Type II hair cells had resting potentials of about -45 mV. Depolarizing voltage steps from a holding potential of -80 or -90 mV induced time- and voltage-dependent outward currents which slowly decayed to a sustained level. Tail currents reversed at about -70 mV, indicating that the outward currents were mainly carried by potassium ions. The currents had an activation threshold around -50 mV. The transient component was completely removed by a depolarizing pre-pulse positive to -10 mV. While bath application of 4-aminopyridine (5 mM) reduced both components, extracellular tetraethylammonium (10 mM) or zero calcium preferentially diminished the sustained current. We conclude that at least two potassium conductances are present, a delayed rectifier with a relatively fast inactivation and a calcium-dependent potassium current. Depolarizing current injections induced an electrical resonance in the voltage responses, with a frequency of 25-100 Hz, larger currents causing higher frequencies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoires de Neurophysiologie Cellulaire et Sensorielle, INSERM U254, Université de Montpellier II, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Griguer
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kros
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sans
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lehouelleur
mesh_terms: D015761:4-Aminopyridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D018069:Hair Cells, Vestibular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds; D015761:4-Aminopyridine; D002118:Calcium