Models for Electrical Tuning in Hair Cells

We analyse several models for the electrical properties of vertebrate hair cell membranes to assess whether they can account for the electrical resonant tuning that these cells possess. The presence of either a voltage-gated potassium current or a calcium-gated potassium current in the cell membrane...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences Biological sciences, 1985-12, Vol.226 (1244), p.325-344
Main Authors: Ashmore, J. F., Attwell, D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Calcium
Cell membranes
Ear and associated structures. Auditory pathways and centers. Hearing. Vocal organ. Phonation. Sound production. Echolocation
Electric current
Electric potential
Frequency ranges
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hair cells
Membrane potential
Potassium
Q factors
Steady state current
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
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Summary:We analyse several models for the electrical properties of vertebrate hair cell membranes to assess whether they can account for the electrical resonant tuning that these cells possess. The presence of either a voltage-gated potassium current or a calcium-gated potassium current in the cell membrane is shown, with suitable assumptions, to make the cell behave as a simple resistance-inductance-capacitance circuit showing resonant behaviour. With plausible values for the model parameters however, the presence of a voltage-gated current alone cannot account for the high Q values of the resonance behaviour seen in hair cells. A calcium-gated current could account for the high Q values. Mechanisms that allow variation of optimal frequency between different hair cells are discussed. It is concluded that the variation may be produced by systematic changes in the number of calcium channels and calcium pumps in the cell membrane.
ISSN:0962-8452
0080-4649
1471-2954
2053-9193
DOI:10.1098/rspb.1985.0098