|
Katie Rennie, Ph.D.:
Research in my laboratory is focused on the peripheral vestibular system. Amniotes (mammals, birds and reptiles) have two types of sensory hair cell in their vestibular epithelia. Type I hair cells are surrounded by an afferent nerve calyx and efferent vestibular fibers make synaptic contact with the calyx. In contrast, type II hair cells, which are older in evolutionary terms than type I hair cells, are contacted by afferent and efferent nerve terminals. The goal of my research is to identify the types of ion channels present in these cells, in order to understand how signals are transformed from a mechanical stimulus at the hair cell bundle, into electrical activity of the primary vestibular neurons. Electrophysiological (patch clamp), molecular and mathematical modeling approaches are used. We have identified several different types of potassium channels in vestibular cells and are currently assessing their modulation by candidate efferent neurotransmitters. It is hoped that results from these studies will clarify some of the mechanisms underlying vestibular disorders.
|
