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Hair Cells

Hair Cells

Hair cells are the sensory receptors of the auditory system—they transduce mechanical sound waves into electrical energy that the nervous system can understand. Hair cells are located in the organ of Corti within the cochlea of the inner ear, between the basilar and tectorial membranes. The actual sensory receptors are called inner hair cells. The outer hair cells serve other functions, such as sound amplification in the cochlea, and are not discussed in detail here.

Synaptic Signaling

Synaptic Signaling

Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...

Synaptic Signaling

Synaptic Signaling

Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.

The Synapse

The Synapse

Neurons communicate with one another by passing on their electrical signals to other neurons. A synapse is the location where two neurons meet to exchange signals. At the synapse, the neuron that sends the signal is called the presynaptic cell, while the neuron that receives the message is called the postsynaptic cell. Note that most neurons can be both presynaptic and postsynaptic, as they both transmit and receive information.

Integration of Synaptic Events

Integration of Synaptic Events

Synaptic integration mainly includes the summation of graded potentials. Graded potentials, regardless of their type, cause subtle alterations in membrane voltage, resulting in either depolarization or hyperpolarization. These incremental changes, when combined or summed, can propel the neuron toward its threshold. Consider, for example, a membrane experiencing a +15 mV shift, causing it to depolarize from -70 mV to -55 mV. In this scenario, graded potentials govern the membrane's ability to...

Chemical Synapses

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Postsynaptic Recordings at Afferent Dendrites Contacting Cochlear Inner Hair Cells: Monitoring Multivesicular Release at a Ribbon Synapse

Postsynaptic Recordings at Afferent Dendrites Contacting Cochlear Inner Hair Cells: Monitoring Multivesicular Release at a Ribbon Synapse

Published on: February 10, 2011

Synaptic mitochondria regulate hair-cell synapse size and function.

Hiu-Tung C Wong^1,2, Qiuxiang Zhang¹, Alisha J Beirl¹

¹Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States.

|October 15, 2019

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Mitochondria regulate sensory hair cell ribbon synapses by managing calcium and NAD+/NADH levels. This process is crucial for both synapse function and the formation of these vital auditory structures.

Keywords:

developmental biology metabolism mitochondrial calcium neuroscience ribbon synapse sensory cell zebrafish

More Related Videos

Morphological and Functional Evaluation of Ribbon Synapses at Specific Frequency Regions of the Mouse Cochlea

Morphological and Functional Evaluation of Ribbon Synapses at Specific Frequency Regions of the Mouse Cochlea

Published on: May 10, 2019

Immunolabeling and Counting Ribbon Synapses in Young Adult and Aged Gerbil Cochleae

Immunolabeling and Counting Ribbon Synapses in Young Adult and Aged Gerbil Cochleae

Published on: April 21, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Postsynaptic Recordings at Afferent Dendrites Contacting Cochlear Inner Hair Cells: Monitoring Multivesicular Release at a Ribbon Synapse

Postsynaptic Recordings at Afferent Dendrites Contacting Cochlear Inner Hair Cells: Monitoring Multivesicular Release at a Ribbon Synapse

Published on: February 10, 2011

Morphological and Functional Evaluation of Ribbon Synapses at Specific Frequency Regions of the Mouse Cochlea

Morphological and Functional Evaluation of Ribbon Synapses at Specific Frequency Regions of the Mouse Cochlea

Published on: May 10, 2019

Immunolabeling and Counting Ribbon Synapses in Young Adult and Aged Gerbil Cochleae

Immunolabeling and Counting Ribbon Synapses in Young Adult and Aged Gerbil Cochleae

Published on: April 21, 2022

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cell Biology
Auditory System Research

Background:

Sensory hair cells in the ear rely on ribbon synapses for auditory neurotransmission.
Ribbon synapses feature electron-dense presynaptic ribbons, primarily composed of Ribeye protein.
Voltage-gated calcium influx via CaV1.3 channels is essential for hair cell synapse function but can hinder ribbon formation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of mitochondrial calcium uptake in zebrafish hair cell ribbon synapses.
To elucidate the mechanism by which calcium and mitochondrial function influence synapse integrity and ribbon development.

Main Methods:

Utilized mature and developing zebrafish hair cells.
Investigated evoked and spontaneous presynaptic calcium influx through CaV1.3 channels.
Examined the effects of blocking mitochondrial calcium uptake.
Assessed cellular NAD+/NADH redox balance and ribbon size.
Administered NAD+ and NADH directly to cells.

Main Results:

In mature hair cells, evoked Ca2+ influx triggers mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake near ribbons, which is vital for synapse integrity.
In developing hair cells, spontaneous Ca2+ influx is linked to mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake.
Mitochondrial Ca2+ loading in developing cells reduces NAD+/NADH redox, leading to smaller ribbon sizes.
NAD+ and NADH directly modulate ribbon size, potentially via Ribeye's NAD(H)-binding domain.

Conclusions:

Presynaptic and mitochondrial calcium dynamics are coupled in hair cells.
This coupling mechanism is essential for maintaining proper presynaptic function and ribbon synapse formation.
Mitochondrial calcium handling and NAD+/NADH balance represent key regulatory pathways for auditory synapse development and function.