“…It has been hypothesized that, after auditory transduction, sequestered K ϩ is redistributed via a network of supporting cell gap junctions (Wangemann, 2002). Experimental evidence supporting such a system includes the observation of gap junction plaques in the connective tissue and organ of Corti (Kikuchi et al, 1995(Kikuchi et al, , 2000Forge et al, 1999Forge et al, , 2002Forge et al, , 2003b and the demonstration of extensive intercellular coupling (Santos-Sacchi, 1985, 1986, 1987Mammano et al, 1996;Zhao andSantos-Sacchi, 1998, 2000;Forge et al, 2003a;Beltramello et al, 2005).…”