K_V1.8 (Kcna10) potassium channels enhance fast, linear signaling in vestibular hair cells and facilitate vestibulomotor reflexes and balance.

ABSTRACT: Vestibular hair cells (HCs) faithfully and rapidly detect head motions and gravity, driving motor reflexes that stabilize balance and gaze during locomotion. With the transition from water to land, the amniote vestibular inner ear added type I HCs, which differ from amniote type II HCs and anamniote HCs by their large calyx afferent synapse, non-quantal afferent transmission, and a large, low-voltage-activated K⁺ conductance (g_K,L). We recently showed that both g_K,L and the major type II K⁺ conductances (A-type and delayed rectifier) require K_V1.8 (Kcna10) subunits. Here we compared K_V1.8-null (Kcna10 ^-/-) and control animals to see how K_V1.8 affects function as measured by receptor potent

SUBMITTER: Martin HR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11838376 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature