M-Like K super(+) Currents in Type I Hair Cells and Calyx Afferent Endings of the Developing Rat Utricle

Type I vestibular hair cells have large K super(+) currents that, like neuronal M currents, activate negative to resting potential and are modulatable. In rodents, these currents are acquired postnatally. In perforated-patch recordings from rat utricular hair cells, immature hair cells [younger than postnatal day 7 (P7)] had a steady-state K super(+) conductance (g sub(-30)) with a half-activation voltage (V sub(1/2)) of -30 mV. The size and activation range did not change in maturing type II cells, but, by P16, type I cells had added a K conductance that was on average fourfold larger and activated much more negatively. This conductance may comprise two components: g sub(-60) (V sub(1/2) of -60 mV) and g sub(-80) (V sub(1/2) of -80 mV). g sub(-80) washed out during ruptured patch recordings and was blocked by a protein kinase inhibitor. M currents can include contributions from KCNQ and ether-a-go-go-related (erg) channels. KCNQ and erg channel blockers both affected the K super(+) currents of type I cells, with KCNQ blockers being more potent at younger than P7 and erg blockers more potent at older than P16. Single-cell reverse transcription-PCR and immunocytochemistry showed expression of KCNQ and erg subunits. We propose that KCNQ channels contribute to g sub(-30) and g sub(-60) and erg subunits contribute to g sub(-80). Type I hair cells are contacted by calyceal afferent endings. Recordings from dissociated calyces and afferent endings revealed large K super(+) conductances, including a KCNQ conductance. Calyx endings were strongly labeled by KCNQ4 and erg1 antisera. Thus, both hair cells and calyx endings have large M-like K super(+) conductances with the potential to control the gain of transmission.