Decrease of prestin expression by increased potassium concentration in organotypic cultures of the organ of Corti of newborn rats.

摘要: Abstract Prestin is the motor protein of outer hair cells organ Corti and a key factor in ensuring high sensitivity level mammalian hearing. In present study, we examined effects increased extracellular potassium (K + ) concentration on expression prestin mRNA transcription factors Gata-3 Carf organotypic culture newborn rats. Mannitol NaCl were used to analyze possible hyperosmotic stress or ion-specific changes, respectively. An increase by 1.5–2.0 was seen cultures grown presence 5 mM K . Potassium 35 55 mM induced parallel decrease expression, but increased. had no effect gene whereas concentrations decreased prestin, not expression. The data suggest that chronic depolarization might possibly contribute hearing loss tinnitus.