Figure 2.
Differential desensitization sets functional properties of mechanotransducer currents. A, Effects of conditioning mechanical stimuli on IR, IInt, IS, and IuS. Shown are representative current traces evoked using a series of 10 ms conditioning stimuli of increasing intensity (0–8.5 μm in 0.7 μm increments), followed by a test stimulus to 8.5 μm. Sweeps were applied every 10 s. B, Activation (open symbols) and availability (filled symbols) relationships determined by protocols as in A. Availability curves are first-order Boltzmann functions returning midpoints of 4.15 ± 0.33 and 4.03 ± 0.37 μm for IR and IInt, respectively. Activation curves are first-order Boltzmann relations with activation stimulus midpoints (Stim50) of 5.6 ± 0.04, 5.00 ± 0.08, 5.2 ± 0.11, and 5.16 ± 0.08 μm for IR, IInt, IS, and IuS, respectively. Steepness factors were 0.81 ± 0.03, 0.98 ± 0.08, 0.95 ± 0.1, and 0.92 ± 0.08 μm, respectively. Each data point is the mean ± SEM (n = 8–35). Gray areas represent window currents.