Efferent neurons control hearing sensitivity and protect hearing from noise through the regulation of gap junctions between cochlear supporting cells
Zhao H, Liu L, Yu N, Zhu Y, Mei L, Chen J, Liang C. Efferent neurons control hearing sensitivity and protect hearing from noise through the regulation of gap junctions between cochlear supporting cells. Journal Of Neurophysiology 2021, 127: 313-327. PMID: 34907797, PMCID: PMC8759971, DOI: 10.1152/jn.00468.2021.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOuter hair cellsActive cochlear amplificationCochlear efferent systemDistortion product otoacoustic emissionsEfferent systemEfferent pathwaysHearing sensitivityMedial olivocochlear efferent fibersPresynaptic vesicular acetylcholine transportersGap junctionsOlivocochlear efferent fibersHair cellsApplication of acetylcholineCochlear supporting cellsProtection of hearingVesicular acetylcholine transporterActive cochlear amplifierCochlear amplificationPostsynaptic ACh receptorsProduct otoacoustic emissionsMOC efferent systemHair cell activityEfferent nervesEfferent inhibitionEfferent fibers