Electrophysiological Recordings of Voltage-Dependent and Mechanosensitive Currents in Sensory Hair Cells of the Auditory and Vestibular Organs of the Mouse

Electrophysiological characterization of inner ear hair cell properties including assessment of voltage-dependent and mechanosensitive currents has provided invaluable information about their development and maturation in several animal models. Beyond the basic understanding of hair cell properties, electrophysiological investigations combined with the use of different mouse models, pharmacological tools, and exogenous gene expression systems such as those driven by viral vectors have been essential in providing insights into the functional role of various proteins expressed in hair cells, many of which are associated with deafness and/or balance deficits. This chapter provides detailed methods designed to optimize recordings of voltage-dependent and mechanosensitive currents in sensory hair cells of the auditory and vestibular organs of the mammal.