Sensory Hair Cells: Synaptic Transmission

1 Anatomy of the Mechano- and Electroreceptors of the Acousticolateral System.- 1.1 The Organ of Corti.- 1.2 Semicircular Canals.- 1.3 The Otolith Organs.- 1.4 Lateral-Line Organs.- 1.5 Electroreceptors.- 2 Electrophysiological Analysis of Synaptic Transmission in Hair Cells.- 2.1 Electrical Characteristics of Hair Cells. Receptor Potentials.- 2.2 Ionic Mechanisms of Receptor Potential Generation.- 2.3 The Functional Properties of Hair Cells of Ampullary Electroreceptors.- 2.4 Electrical Responses of the Postsynaptic Membrane.- 2.5 The Effect of Ions on Synaptic Processes.- 3 The Mode of Action of Amino Acid-Using Synapses.- 3.1 Release of Amino Acids.- 3.2 The Mechanisms of Neurotransmitter Release.- 3.3 A Transmitter Inactivation Mechanism.- 3.4 Characteristics of Amino Acid Binding Sites.- 3.5 Pharmacology of Amino Acid Receptors.- 3.6 The Mode of Action of Excitatory Amino Acids.- 4 Pharmacology of Synaptic Transmission in Receptors of the Acousticolateral System.- 4.1 The Organ of Hearing.- 4.2 The Vestibular Apparatus.- 4.3 Lateral-Line Organ.- 4.4 Electroreceptors.- Conclusion.- References.