Calcium action potentials in hair cells pattern auditory neuron activity before hearing onset.
We found rat central auditory neurons to fire action potentials in a precise sequence of mini-bursts before the age of hearing onset. This stereotyped pattern was initiated by hair cells in the cochlea, which trigger brief bursts of action potentials in auditory neurons each time they fire a Ca2+ spike. By generating theta-like activity, hair cells may limit the influence of synaptic depression in developing auditory circuits and promote consolidation of synapses.
Tritsch
Nicolas X
NX
The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Rodríguez-Contreras
Adrián
A
Crins
Tom T H
TT
Wang
Han Chin
HC
Borst
J Gerard G
JG
Bergles
Dwight E
DE
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D003051:Cochlea / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D006199:Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008839:Microelectrodes; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009847:Olivary Nucleus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013136:Spiral Ganglion / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
D002118:Calcium