Society for Neuroscience, Journal of Neuroscience, 20(34), p. 6843-6848, 2014
DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4990-13.2014
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Sound encoding is mediated by Ca2+influx-evoked release of glutamate at the ribbon synapse of inner hair cells. Here we studied the role of ATP in this process focusing on Ca2+current through CaV1.3 channels and Ca2+homeostasis in mouse inner hair cells. Patch-clamp recordings and Ca2+imaging demonstrate that hydrolyzable ATP is essential to maintain synaptic Ca2+influx in inner hair cells via fueling Ca2+-ATPases to avoid an increase in cytosolic [Ca2+] and subsequent Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent inactivation of CaV1.3 channels.