ATP in endolymph enhances electrically-evoked oto-acoustic emissions from the guinea pig cochlea.

ATP was iontophoresed into the scala media of the guinea pig cochlea. A reversible increase in the amplitude of electrically-evoked oto-acoustic emissions (EEOAEs), and reductions in the endocochlear potential (EP) and the cochlear microphonic (CM) were observed. These effects were consistent with an action of ATP on P2X receptors on outer hair cells (OHC). The results confirm that endogenous endolymphatic ATP, acting via P2X receptors on OHCs, may serve a regulatory function in the cochlea.