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Inhibition of potassium currents in outer hair cells and Deiters' cells from guinea pig cochlea by linopirdine

Gong Shusheng, Chang Qing, Ding Juan

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan. Hubei 430022, China

Abstract

To study the functional expression of KCNQ gene in outer hair ceils (OHCs) and Deiters' ceils, the effects of linopirdine on the whole cell K+ current were investigated by using the whole cell variant of patch clamp technique in the present study. The outward tetraethylammonium (TEA)-sensitive K+ current and the inward K+ current (IKn) in OHCs were recorded and measured before and after the administration of linopirdine. Simultaneously, the whole cell currents in Deiters' cells were also observed in normal solution and in the presence of linopirdine. After the application of 100 μmol/L linopirdine to OHCs, the peak K+ current was reversibly blocked and the late K+ current was partly reduced. In addition, the decay time constant of the TEA-sensitive K+ current was prolonged in the presence of 100 μmol/L linopirdine. The inward current in OHCs was totally inhibited after the superfusion of 100 μmol/L and 200 μrnol/L linopirdine respectively.

Key words: KCNQ;Potassium channels;Outer hair cells;Deiters cells;patch clamp technique;Linopirdine

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Citing This Article：

Gong Shusheng, Chang Qing, Ding Juan. Inhibition of potassium currents in outer hair cells and Deiters' cells from guinea pig cochlea by linopirdine. Acta Physiol Sin 2004; 56 (4): (in Chinese with English abstract).