This proposal seeks to investigate mechanisms of synaptic transmission at the inner hair cell (IHC) afferent synapse in the mammalian cochlea. In the inner ear, sound signals are converted into hair cell receptor potentials, and subsequently are translated at the afferent synapse into firing rates in auditory nerve fibers. Coding of sound critically depends on the diverse firing properties of auditory nerve fibers. Important features of auditory nerve fibers are their spontaneous firing rates, their thresholds of activation and their `rate level functions', describing the changes in firing rates in response to different sound pressure levels. Three main `sites'in cochlear transmission have been suggested to determine auditory nerve fiber properties: 1) basilar membrane mechanics;2) IHC receptor potential;3) IHC afferent synaptic transmission. Convincing arguments have been made that auditory nerve fibers with distinct properties (low versus high spontaneous rates;high versus low thresholds of activation) innervate the same IHCs. However, all 10-20 afferent fibers contacting one IHC `sense'the same receptor potential and therefore it is likely that differences in afferent fiber properties must arise at single synapses.
The aim of this study is to ask which properties of auditory nerve fibers arise at the IHC afferent synapse, and how pre- and/or postsynaptic components specifically determine these properties. Excised cochlear tissue from 2-4 week old rodents will be used to perform simultaneous whole cell recordings from IHCs and afferent fiber terminals directly where they contact the IHCs. The transfer function at the IHC afferent synapse will be measured directly by controlling the IHC membrane potential and monitoring postsynaptic activity in the afferent terminal. Extracellular recordings will be used to monitor the rate of action potentials at the afferent terminal. Key to this approach is that it allows recordings after hearing onset, when the diverse properties of auditory nerve fibers have developed. Afferent fiber spontaneous rates, thresholds and transfer functions will be determined and afferent fiber adaptation will be measured. Simultaneous recordings from pairs of afferent fibers will provide a direct test of whether fibers with different properties do innervate a single IHC. Hypotheses based on in vivo experiments that have suggested specific loci as the origin for specific auditory nerve fiber properties will be reevaluated. The specific pre-or postsynaptic mechanisms responsible for specific firing patterns will be further investigated. A better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the generation of diverse auditory nerve fiber firing properties will provide the basis for an improvement in cochlear implant design. The studies outlined in this proposal seek to understand the mechanisms that underlie synaptic transmission at the first synapse in the auditory pathway, the synapse between hair cells and auditory nerve fibers. The conversion of the hair cell receptor potential into a firing rate in the auditory nerve fibers is an important step in coding the sound signal for transmission to the brain. Our results will support studies that aim to model how auditory nerve activity is generated. These approaches can provide a future basis for better cochlear implant design.
The studies outlined in this proposal seek to understand the mechanisms that underlie synaptic transmission at the first synapse in the auditory pathway, the synapse between hair cells and auditory nerve fibers. The conversion of the hair cell receptor potential into a firing rate in the auditory nerve fibers is an important step in coding the sound signal for transmission to the brain. Our results will support studies that aim to model how auditory nerve activity is generated. These approaches can provide a future basis for better cochlear implant design.
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