Time course and calcium dependence of transmitter release at a single ribbon synapse

JUAN D. GOUTMAN; ELISABETH GLOWATZKI

PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Año: 2007 vol. 104 p. 16341 - 16346

0027-8424

At the first synapse in the auditory pathway, the receptor potential of mechanosensory hair cells is converted into a firing pattern in auditory nerve fibers. For the accurate coding of timing and intensity of sound signals, transmitter release at this synapse must occur with highest precision. To measure directly the transfer characteristics of the hair cell afferent synapse, we implemented simultaneous whole-cell recordings from mammalian inner hair cells (IHCs) and auditory nerve fiber terminals that typically receive input from a single ribbon synapse. During a one second IHC depolarization the synaptic response depressed >90 %, representing the main source for adaptation in the auditory nerve. Synaptic depression was slightly affected by AMPA receptor desensitization, however, it was mostly due to reduced vesicular release. When the transfer function between transmitter release and Ca2+-influx was tested at constant open probability for Ca2+-channels (potentials above 0 mV), a super linear relation was found. This relation is presumed to result from the cooperative binding of 3-4 Ca2+-ions at the Ca2+-sensor. However, in the physiological range for receptor potentials (-50 to -30 mV), the relation between Ca2+-influx and afferent activity was linear, assuring minimal distortion in the coding of sound intensity. Changes in Ca2+-influx caused an increase in release probability, but not in the average size of multivesicular synaptic events. By varying Ca2+-buffering in the IHC, we further investigate how Ca2+-channel and Ca2+-sensor at this synapse might relate.