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The Hair Cell Synapse

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Synaptic Mechanisms in the Auditory System

Part of the book series: Springer Handbook of Auditory Research ((SHAR,volume 41))

Abstract

The sensory cells of the auditory/vestibular system rely on two highly specialized structures to transmit information to the brain: hair bundles and ribbon synapses. Hair bundles transduce sound and head movements into changes in membrane potential, which in turn stimulate ribbon synapses to release neurotransmitter. As opposed to the all-or-none firing of neurons, both mechanotransduction and release of neurotransmitter occur in a graded fashion. When hair bundles are deflected, cations flow through transduction channels, initiating a change in membrane potential. Stronger deflections result in greater changes in receptor potential, which in turn lead to graded gating of L-type calcium channels. These basally located channels mediate calcium influx and subsequent fusion of synaptic vesicles. After vesicle release, sufficient amounts of neurotransmitter cause an action potential to fire in afferent neurons.

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Acknowledgments

I wish to thank Elisabeth Glowatzki, Josef Trapani, and Laurence Trussell for their helpful suggestions and comments on this chapter.

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  1. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Oregon Hearing Research Center, and Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    Teresa Nicolson

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Correspondence to Teresa Nicolson .

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  1. Vollum Institute, Oregon Health Sciences University, SW. Sam Jackson Park Rd. 3181, Portland, 97239-3098, Oregon, USA

    Laurence O. Trussell

  2. , Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, 20742-4415, Maryland, USA

    Arthur N. Popper

  3. Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, 02543, Massachusetts, USA

    Richard R. Fay

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Nicolson, T. (2012). The Hair Cell Synapse. In: Trussell, L., Popper, A., Fay, R. (eds) Synaptic Mechanisms in the Auditory System. Springer Handbook of Auditory Research, vol 41. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9517-9_3

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