Synaptic transmission at vertebrate hair cells.
Mechanosensory hair cells release chemical transmitters onto associated afferent dendrites and respond to transmitters released by efferent neurons. Dihydropyridine-sensitive, voltage-gated calcium channels support transmitter release from hair cells and may be expressed preferentially at release sites. Recently, a novel subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor family, alpha9, was identified and found to be expressed in rat hair cells. It appears to mediate efferent inhibition via associated calcium-activated potassium channels.
Fuchs
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Hearing Science Center, 521 Traylor Building, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. pfuchs@bme.jhu.edu
D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000502:physiology*
D015220:Calcium Channels; D015221:Potassium Channels; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic