Abstract
In mammals, sound transduction by inner hair cells (IHC) generates a receptor potential whose amplitude and phase drive auditory nerve firing. The membrane filter properties that define the input-output function of IHC are derived from membrane conductance and capacitance. These elements of the membrane filter were quantified using whole-cell voltage clamp of IHC from the four turns of the guinea pig cochlea. IHC membrane properties were remarkably constant along the cochlea, in contrast with all other auditory hair cell systems, and suggests that extrinsic processes such as the active filter provided by the outer hair cells are matched to a constant transfer function of the IHC. Two outwardly rectifying K+ currents contribute to the IHC membrane conductance. These combined currents activate at approximately -55 mV. IHC mean input resistance was 140 M ohm and capacitance was 10.0 pF, generating a membrane time constant of 1.4 ms or a corner frequency of approximately 115 Hz, which is consistent with reported low-frequency roll-off of the IHC AC receptor potential in vivo. Approximately 40% of the 313-1 nS total K+ conductance about 0 mV was attributed to charybdotoxin-sensitive K(Ca) channels (also sensitive to cell dialysis with the Ca2+ chelator BAPTA or removal of extracellular Ca2+). The only known ligand-activated conductance in mature IHC, the P2X receptor conductance, averaged 31 nS (activated by 400 microM ATP; about -75 mV) irrespective of cell origin. Thus, regulation of intracellular Ca2+ and activation of P2X receptors by extracellular ATP provide capacity for local dynamic fine-tuning of the IHC membrane filter.