What they found
Patch-clamp recording from apical and basal OHCs in neonatal rat cochlea. Single-channel conductance of the MET channel increases from 145 pS (apical, low CF) to 210 pS (basal, high CF). Channels are highly Ca²⁺-selective (PCa/PNa ≈ 5–7). Ca²⁺ fraction of the total MET current is ~15% under physiological ionic conditions.
Numbers that matter
- Single MET channel conductance: 145–210 pS (apical to basal gradient)
- Model value
g_MET = 150 pSis correct for apical OHC - Ca²⁺ fraction of MET current
f_Ca = 0.15: confirmed (Beurg 2006 Table 2) - Channel open probability at rest: ~0.1–0.15 (before stimulation)
- Activation time constant: sub-millisecond
- Channel is mechanically gated via tip-link tension
Fit to h05
Confirms both g_MET = 150e-12 S and f_Ca = 0.15 in the RBM24 ODE. These are the two load-bearing MET parameters in the Ca²⁺ influx term. Both values are well-supported.
Connections
- STRC Calcium Oscillation Acoustic Therapy — g_MET and f_Ca
[see-also]2019-fettiplace-kim-met-channel-review — broader review[part-of]calcium-oscillation (literature-params topic)