Cisplatin: effects on the stretch receptor neuron of the crayfish

The effects of cisplatin on electrical and mechanotransducer properties of the crayfish stretch receptor neuron was studied using a microelectrode voltage clamp technique. In the stretch receptor neuron, negligible changes in membrane capacitance, leak conductance, resting membrane potential, potential-dependent currents or mechanoreceptor current were seen either on acute cisplatin treatment or after long-lasting treatment for up to 2 weeks. The inhibitory GABA-sensitive synapse on the neuron was not affected by cisplatin. The cisplatin cytotoxicity on sensory neurons such as outer hair cells of the organ of Corti cannot be explained by direct effects on ionic channels of these cells including stretch-activated channels.