GABA-B-MEDIATED MODULATION OF IONIC CONDUCTANCES IN TYPE-I HAIR-CELLS ISOLATED FROM GUINEA-PIG SEMICIRCULAR CANALS

Mammalian vestibular type I hair cells (VIHCs) are innervated by an afferent synaptic calyx which contains vesicles and is immunoreactive for GABA. We describe here the effects of GABA on electrophysiological properties and on cytosolic free-calcium levels ([Ca2+]i) of VIHCs isolated from guinea-pig ampullae. Whole-cell tight-seal macroscopic currents recorded from VIHCs showed that 100 muM GABA induced a decrease in the outward currents elicited by depolarizing membrane potentials. These are known to comprise potassium calcium-dependent currents. This effect was mimicked by baclofen, a GABA(B) agonist, and was not affected by picrotoxin, a GABA(A) antagonist. GABA also induced an increase in the inward current elicited at hyperpolarized membrane potentials in 50% of the tested cells. Single channel recording in cell-attached patches revealed that externally applied GABA produced a decrease and an increase in the open probability of 170 pS and 45 pS and of 15 pS channels, respectively. In imaging experiments using the dye Fura-2 to measure [Ca2+]i, the only reversible modulation of [Ca2+]i observed in response to GABA application was a decrease. These results demonstrate a modulation of calcium and potassium conductances by GABA, via GABA(B) receptors, in guinea-pig VIHCs.