Mammalian cochlea inner hair cells (IHCs) can code a continuous grading of sound intensities. This is because neurotransmitter release at mature sensory ribbon synapses is linearly dependent on calcium influx, which has the effect of broadening the cells' dynamic range. Immature IHC neurotransmitter release is quite different. Here, the authors show that a switch from syanptogamin I and II to synaptogamin IV underlies this developmental change.
- Stuart L Johnson
- Christoph Franz
- Walter Marcotti
