First Author | Platzer J | Year | 2000 |
Journal | Cell | Volume | 102 |
Issue | 1 | Pages | 89-97 |
PubMed ID | 10929716 | Mgi Jnum | J:63515 |
Mgi Id | MGI:1861088 | Doi | 10.1016/s0092-8674(00)00013-1 |
Citation | Platzer J, et al. (2000) Congenital deafness and sinoatrial node dysfunction in mice lacking class D L-type Ca2+ channels. Cell 102(1):89-97 |
abstractText | Voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ channels (LTCCs) containing a pore-forming alpha1D subunit (D-LTCCs) are expressed in neurons and neuroendocrine cells. Their relative contribution to total L-type Ca2+ currents and their physiological role and significance as a drug target remain unknown. Therefore, we generated D-LTCC deficient mice (alpha1D-/-) that were viable with no major disturbances of glucose metabolism. alpha1D-/-mice were deaf due to the complete absence of L-type currents in cochlear inner hair cells and degeneration of outer and inner hair cells. In wild-type controls, D-LTCC-mediated currents showed low activation thresholds and slow inactivation kinetics. Electrocardiogram recordings revealed sinoatrial node dysfunction (bradycardia and arrhythmia) in alpha1D-/- mice. We conclude that alpha1D can form LTCCs with negative activation thresholds essential for normal auditory function and control of cardiac pacemaker activity. |