Outer hair cells (OHCs) provide amplification in the mammalian cochlea using somatic force generation underpinned by voltage-dependent conformational changes of the motor protein prestin. However, prestin must be gated by changes in membrane potential on a cycle-by-cycle basis and the periodic component of the receptor potential may be greatly attenuated by low-pass filtering due to the OHC time constant (τ m), questioning the functional relevance of this mechanism. Here, we measured τ m from OHCs with a range of characteristic frequencies (CF) and found that, at physiological endolymphatic calcium concentrations, approximately half of the mechanotransducer (MT) channels are opened at rest, depolarizing the membrane potential to near −40 mV. The depolarized resting potential activates a voltage-dependent K + conductance, thus minimizing τ m and expanding the membrane filter so there is little receptor potential attenuation at the cell's CF. These data suggest that minimal τ m filtering in vivo ensures optimal activation of prestin.
► Cochlear amplification via prestin limited by outer hair cell (OHC) time constant ► Endolymph Ca 2+ opens half the transduction channels, depolarizing OHC to −40 mV ► Depolarization activates K + conductance, reduces time constant and expands filter ► Minimal membrane filtering in vivo ensures prestin activation over all frequencies