Cell membrane manipulations affect mechano-electrical transduction currents in rat auditory hair cells

Background In mammals, a specialized auditory end organ, the Organ of Corti, is responsible for hearing. It comprises supporting cells and secondary sensory cells (inner IHC; and outer hair cells OHC). IHCs and OHCs employ mechano-electrical transduction (MET) to translate sound in electrical signals. Their sensory organelle, the hair bundle, is comprised of three rows of stereocilia, that are arranged in a staircase pattern. Deflections towards the tallest row activate MET channels. While non-auditory MET channels (such as TRAK1) can be activated or modulated by changes to their lipid environment, these interactions for mammalian auditory MET channel remain uninvestigated. Additionally, some lipid metabolism diseases lead to hearing loss/impairment, as does treatment with aminoglycosides.