Abstract
Inner hair cell (IHC) ribbon synapses are the first synapse in the auditory system and can be degenerated by noise and aging, thereby leading to hidden hearing loss (HHL) and other hearing disorders. However, the mechanism underlying this cochlear synaptopathy remains unclear. Here, we report that elevation of extracellular K+, which is a consequence of noise exposure, could cause IHC ribbon synapse degeneration and swelling. Like intensity dependence in noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy, the K+-induced degeneration was dose-dependent, and could be attenuated by BK channel blockers. However, application of glutamate receptor (GluR) agonists caused ribbon swelling but not degeneration. In addition, consistent with synaptopathy in HHL, both K+ and noise exposure only caused IHC but not outer hair cell ribbon synapse degeneration. These data reveal that K+ excitotoxicity can degenerate IHC ribbon synapses in HHL, and suggest that BK channel may be a potential target for prevention and treatment of HHL.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-4-2021
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-020-01532-w
Funding Information
This work was supported by NIH R01 DC 017025 and R56 DC 016585 to H.B.Z.
Repository Citation
Zhao, Hong-Bo; Zhu, Yan; and Liu, Li-Man, "Excess Extracellular K+ Causes Inner Hair Cell Ribbon Synapse Degeneration" (2021). Otolaryngology--Head & Neck Surgery Faculty Publications. 13.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/otolaryngology_facpub/13
Supplementary Information
42003_2020_1532_MOESM2_ESM.pdf (367 kB)
Description of Supplementary Files
42003_2020_1532_MOESM3_ESM.xls (67 kB)
Supplementary Data 1
42003_2020_1532_MOESM4_ESM.pdf (150 kB)
Reporting Summary
Notes/Citation Information
Published in Communications Biology, v. 4, article no. 24.
© The Author(s) 2021
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