The afferent synapse of cochlear hair cells.
Mechanosensory hair cells of the cochlea must serve as both transducers and presynaptic terminals, precisely releasing neurotransmitter to encode acoustic signals for the postsynaptic afferent neuron. Remarkably, each inner hair cell serves as the sole input for 10-30 individual afferent neurons, which requires extraordinary precision and reliability from the synaptic ribbons that marshal vesicular release onto each afferent. Recent studies of hair cell membrane capacitance and postsynaptic currents suggest that the synaptic ribbon may operate by simultaneous multi-vesicular release. This mechanism could serve to ensure the accurate timing of transmission, and further challenges our understanding of this synaptic nano-machine.
Fuchs
Paul A
PA
The Center for Hearing and Balance, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. pfuchs@bme.jhu.edu
Glowatzki
Elisabeth
E
Moser
Tobias
T
D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D003051:Cochlea / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D027341:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 1 / Q000502:physiology; D027342:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2 / Q000502:physiology; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*
D027341:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 1; D027342:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2