Abstract
The auditory system is a fascinating sensory organ that overall, converts sound signals to electrical signals of the nervous system. Initially, sound energy is converted to mechanical energy via amplification processes in the middle ear, followed by transduction of mechanical movements of the oval window into electrochemical signals in the cochlear hair cells, and finally, neural signals travel to the central auditory system, via the auditory division of the 8th cranial nerve. The majority of people above 60 years have some form of age-related hearing loss, also known as presbycusis. However, the biological mechanisms of presbycusis are complex and not yet fully delineated. In the present article, we highlight ion channels and transport proteins, which are integral for the proper functioning of the auditory system, facilitating the diffusion of various ions across auditory structures for signal transduction and processing. Like most other physiological systems, hearing abilities decline with age, hence, it is imperative to fully understand inner ear aging changes, so ion channel functions should be further investigated in the aging cochlea. In this review article, we discuss key various ion channels in the auditory system and how their functions change with age. Understanding the roles of ion channels in auditory processing could enhance the development of potential biotherapies for age-related hearing loss.
Highlights
Auditory system pathologies lead to hearing loss that can be categorized into two broad types: conductive or sensorineural hearing loss
The ion channels and transport proteins associated with cochlear K+ processing and recycling pathways are essential for normal hearing
Ion channels involved in K+ flux—including the elusive transduction channels of hair cells, and ion channels in neurons and stria vascularis—are included in this group
Summary
Auditory system pathologies lead to hearing loss that can be categorized into two broad types: conductive or sensorineural hearing loss. Mixed presbycusis is a combination of four types of hearing loss; and indeterminate occurs due to damage to the stereocilia tip links and their mechano-electrical channels [15]. They hypothesized that metabolic presbycusis, involving lateral wall and stria vascularis atrophy, is a predominant lesion in the inner ear, and the sensory cell and neural loss may be less prevalent [10,15,16]. (I) Potassium exits the hair cell and re-circulates into the endolymph of the scala media via various structures and ion channels in the supporting cells and lateral wall of the cochlea. Adapted from Hibino and Kurachi (2006) [25], with permission from the publisher
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