Time course and calcium dependence of transmitter release at a single ribbon synapse.

ABSTRACT: At the first synapse in the auditory pathway, the receptor potential of mechanosensory hair cells is converted into a firing pattern in auditory nerve fibers. For the accurate coding of timing and intensity of sound signals, transmitter release at this synapse must occur with the highest precision. To measure directly the transfer characteristics of the hair cell afferent synapse, we implemented simultaneous whole-cell recordings from mammalian inner hair cells (IHCs) and auditory nerve fiber terminals that typically receive input from a single ribbon synapse. During a 1-s IHC depolarization, the synaptic response depressed >90%, representing the main source for adaptation in the auditory nerve. Synaptic depression was slightly affected by alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropioni

SUBMITTER: Goutman JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2042208 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature