EXPRESSION OF POTASSIUM CHANNELS IN GERBIL OUTER HAIR-CELLS DURING DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT REQUIRE NEURAL INDUCTION

Mammalian outer hair cells (OHCs) contain Ca and K channels in their s ynaptic pole. We questioned if the ontogeny of potassium currents of O HCs depends on the neural induction of early afferent contact. By reco rding whole-cell currents of OHCs grown in organotypic cultures depriv ed of afferent innervation, we show that a Ca-activated K channel is e xpressed in these cells, suggesting that the ontogeny of the K channel is an intrinsic process. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.