Work

In vivo optogenetics reveals homeostatic control of cochlear sensitivity by supporting cells

Year: 2020

Type: preprint

Abstract: We used optogenetics to investigate the control of auditory sensitivity by cochlear supporting cells that scaffold outer hair cells, which transduce and amplify cochlear responses to sound. In vivo and in vitro measurements of sound-induced cochlear mechanical and electrical responses were made from mice that conditionally expressed nonselective cationic channelrhodopsins in Deiters’ and outer pillar supporting cells in the organ of Corti. We demonstrated that cochlear light-stimulation and subsequent activation of channelrhodopsins depolarized the supporting cells, changed their extracellular electrical environment, and sensitized insensitive and desensitized sensitive cochlear responses to sound. We concluded that outer hair cells, Deiters’ cells and outer pillar cells interact through feedback which regulates their immediate ionic and electrical environment and controls energy flow in the mammalian cochlea to optimize its performance over its entire dynamic range. Activation of the supporting cell channelrhodopsins shunts this feedback system and restores cochlear sensitivity to a set level.

Source: Research Square

DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-92461/v1

Authors: Victoria Lukashkina, Snezana Levic, Patricio Simões, Zhenhang Xu, Joseph DiGuiseppi, Jian Zuo, Andrei Lukashkin, Ian Russell

Institutions: University of Brighton, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Creighton University

Language: English

Topic: Hearing, Cochlea, Tinnitus, Genetics

Subfield: Sensory Systems

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Creighton University, Medical Research Council

Awards: G5998785214, Interaction between sensory and supporting cells in the organ of Corti: basis for sensitivity and frequency selectivity of mammalian cochlea.

OpenAlex ID: W3205155513

Cites: 44

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Related to: 10