title: Sensory adaptation in frog vestibular organs.
abstract: Adaptation, i.e., the decrease with time in sensory units' afferent discharge to a constant stimulus, appears to be a common feature of the receptors belonging to acoustico-lateralis system: However, the mechanisms underlying this process are still a matter of debate. The present experiments demonstrate that sensory adaptation to both mechanical and electrical stimuli can be nearly suppressed after perilymphatic ouabain administration. This clearly indicates that the K+ homeostatic mechanisms [Valli et al., (1990) J. Physiol. (London) 430, 585-594] which control the K+ concentration gradient at both ends of vestibular hair cells play a predominant role in this process. The possible importance of different K+-dependent mechanisms in hair cell adaptation is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Physiology, University of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zucca
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Botta
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Milesi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valli
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000187:drug effects; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010498:Perilymph / Q000187:drug effects; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010042:Ouabain; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; D011188:Potassium