Figure 9. High Ca²⁺ removes the MET conductance gradient as revealed by unitary channel analysis.

(A) Location-specific single MET channel recording from wild-type OHCs in solution with 3 mM or 35 mM Ca²⁺ at D05 or D60. The traces were chosen to show nice dual-peak fitting but did not represent normal flickers. A 100 nm step deflection was applied to the hair bundle by a glass probe. (B) Statistical analysis of location-specific unitary MET channel current. Values of unitary I_MET in 3 mM Ca²⁺: D05, –7.0 ± 0.2 pA; D20, –7.9 ± 0.2 pA; D60, –10.6 ± 0.2 pA. Values of I_MET in 35 mM Ca²⁺: D05, –4.7 ± 0.1 pA; D20, –4.8 ± 0.1 pA; D60, –4.9 ± 0.1 pA. The holding potential was −70 mV. N values are shown as events/cells. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001, ANOVA.