MEMBRANE POTENTIAL AND ION CURRENTS IN ISOLATED OUTER HAIR CELLS OF GUINEA PIG COCHLEA
豚鼠耳蜗离体外毛细胞的膜电位和离子电流

Outer hair cells (OHCs) were isolated from guinea pig cochlea and investigated with the patch clamp techniques. These cells could maintain their morphology in vitro with no obvious change at room temperature for about 4 hours. Using simultaneous whole cell voltage clamp, it was demonstrated that the main transmembrane currents were voltage - dependent K+ current. The resting membrane potential of isolated OHCs ranged from - 10mV to - 36mV with a mean value of -26mV (n=10). The application of the patch clamp techniques to the study of hair cells has contributed to understanding not only of normal hair cell transduction and synapitc mechanisms. but also of the mechanisms of action ototoxic drugs at the molecular level.