title: Taurine modulates calcium influx under normal and ototoxic conditions in isolated cochlear spiral ganglion neurons.
abstract: The effect of taurine on calcium homeostasis of isolated cochlear spiral ganglion neurons under normal and ototoxic conditions was investigated using fluo-3 calcium imaging. Sole application of taurine (15 mM) induced an increase in intracelluar Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)), which was largely inhibited either by the application of an L-type calcium-channel blocker nifedipine or a calcium-free medium. Preincubation with 1 mM gentamicin induced an inhibition of the high K(+)-evoked elevation of [Ca(2+)](i). Short-term exposure to taurine prevented this inhibition. The results suggested that taurine at this concentration was able to increase [Ca(2+)](i) mainly by calcium influx through L-type calcium channels in isolated spiral ganglion neurons and to antagonize gentamicin-induced inhibition of calcium elevation evoked by high K(+) by its calcium homeostatic effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hai-Ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Fang-Lu
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Wen-Yuan
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D018072:Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D013136:Spiral Ganglion / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013654:Taurine; D002118:Calcium