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Acetylcholine‐evoked calcium increases in Deiters' cells of the guinea pig cochlea suggest α9‐like receptors
Author(s) -
Matsunobu Takeshi,
Chung Jong Woo,
Schacht Jochen
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/1097-4547(20010201)63:3<252::aid-jnr1018>3.0.co;2-0
Subject(s) - efferent , cochlea , acetylcholine , neuroscience , acetylcholine receptor , hair cell , biology , neurotransmission , neurotransmitter , strychnine , chemistry , receptor , endocrinology , biochemistry , central nervous system , afferent
The medial efferent system innervates outer hair cells in the organ of Corti. Neurotransmission at this synapse is mediated by acetylcholine (ACh) acting on nicotinic ACh receptors containing the α9 subunit. In addition to the sensory cells, the supporting cells of the mammalian cochlea also receive efferent innervation but the neurotransmitter(s) at these synapses are not known. We show slow transient increases of intracellular calcium evoked by ACh in isolated Deiters' cells of the guinea pig cochlea. The antagonists atropine, d‐tubocurarine and strychnine blocked the ACh‐effect. Nicotine was an ineffective agonist. The pharmacologic profile and the kinetics of the calcium response suggest an α9‐like ACh receptor on Deiters' cells similar but not identical to that on the outer hair cells. J. Neurosci. Res. 63:252–256, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.