POTASSIUM CURRENTS IN TYPE-II VESTIBULAR HAIR-CELLS ISOLATED FROM THE GUINEA-PIGS CRISTA-AMPULLARIS

Type II vestibular hair cells were isolated from cristae ampullares of guinea-pig and maintained in vitro for 2-3 h. Outward membrane currents were studied under whole-cell voltage-clamp conditions. Type II hair cells had resting potentials of about -45 mV. Depolarizing voltage steps from a holding potential of -80 or -90 mV induced time- and voltage-dependent outward currents which slowly decayed to a sustained level. Tail currents reversed at about -70 mV, indicating that the outward currents were mainly carried by potassium ions. The currents had an activation threshold around 50mV. The transient component was completely removed by a depolarizing pre-pulse positive to -10 mV. While bath application of 4-aminopyridine (5 mM) reduced both components, extracellular tetraethylammonium (10 mM) or zero calcium preferentially diminished the sustained current. We conclude that at least two potassium conductances are present, a delayed rectifier with a relatively fast inactivation and a calcium-dependent potassium current. Depolarizing current injections induced an electrical resonance in the voltage responses, with a frequency of 25-100 Hz, larger currents causing higher frequencies.