Tonotopic map of potassium currents in chick auditory hair cells using an intact basilar papilla

The avian basilar papilla is tonotopically organized such that hair cells along the sensory epithelium respond best to acoustic stimulation at differing frequencies. This specificity arises due to the mechanics of the cochlea itself and intrinsic electrical properties of the hair cells. Tall hair cells show membrane voltage oscillations in response to step current injection that may allow cells to act as electrical resonators, boosting the response at the resonant frequency. These oscillations and the underlying currents have been studied in enzymatically isolated cells. This study uses a whole chick (Gallus domesticus) basilar papilla preparation where the entire epithelium and its afferent connections are intact. With this preparation, a map of changes in potassium currents of tall hair cells was produced. All cells recorded from expressed two K+ currents, a calcium-activated K+ current, I(K(Ca)), and a voltage-activated K+ current, I(K). Also, apical cells expressed an inward rectifier K+ current, I(IR). The amplitude of total outward current increases in a gradient along the tonotopic axis. Pharmacological blockers were used to separate the outward K+ currents. These experiments showed that both currents individually increase in magnitude along a gradient from apex to base. Finally, measurements of oscillation frequency in response to current steps suggest a discontinuous change in the electrical resonances at about 33% from the apex. This study demonstrates a new preparation to study the electrical properties of hair cells in more detail along the tonotopic axis of the chick basilar papilla.