E mployment is one important marker of adult success in our society. In addition to providing financial security, stable employment allows individuals to be self-sufficient and contributes to an overall sense of self-esteem and personal satisfaction (Szymanski, Enright, Hershenson, & Ettinger, 2003). However, the literature suggests that the benefits accrued from securing fulfilling employment have gone largely unrealized by people with disabilities (National Organization on Disability, 2004; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010). Overall employment rates for individuals with disabilities continue to fall behind those without disabilities, contributing to the persistently high poverty rates for this population (Foley, Marrone, & Simon, 2002;O'Day & Foley, 2008).Limited employment opportunities and lack of financial stability are also a reality for many young adults with disabilities. Although overall employment rates have risen over time, occupational outcomes for young adults with disabilities still lag behind those without disabilities 423

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are expressed in various sensory and central neurons. The functional role of these channels remains elusive. Complex subunit combinations and lack of specific blockers for native receptors are likely to contribute to the difficulty of resolving the function of ASICs. Finding a neuronal cell line, which expresses a single population of ASICs, should prove to be useful in delineating the function of individual ASICs. Using patch-clamp, Ca(2+)-imaging, and RT-PCR techniques, we have explored the existence of ASICs in PC12 cells, a clonal neuronal cell line. Fast drops of extracellular pH activated transient inward currents in PC12 cells with pH(0.5) at 6.0-6.2. The ASICs in PC12 cells were selective for Na(+) with significant Ca(2+) permeability. Currents in PC12 cells were blocked by the nonselective ASIC blocker amiloride. PcTX1, a specific homomeric ASIC1a blocker, also blocked the ASIC currents with an IC(50) of approximately 1.5 nM. RT-PCR demonstrated the existence of ASIC1a transcript in both undifferentiated and nerve growth factor-differentiated PC12 cells. Our data suggest that PC12 cells likely contain a single population of functional proton-gated channel-homomeric ASIC1a. It might be an ideal neuronal cell line for the study of physiological and potential pathological roles of this key subunit of ASICs.