Electrophysiological studies on the spatial distribution of the crossed olivocochlear bundle along the guinea pig cochlea.

Abstract

The effectiveness of electrical stimulation of the crossed olivocochlear bundle (COCB) was measured at different locations along the cochlear partition. Differential electrodes were used to sample the cochlear microphonic (CM) at turns I, II, and III. A pipette inserted into scala media in turns I, II, and III was used to measure the slow negative potential associated with electrical stimulation of the COCB. The responses of auditory nerve fibers were sampled within the modiolus and included a wide range of best frequencies. The magnitude of the slow negative potential was maximum in turn I and decreased in turns II and III. The increment in CM, produced by COCB stimulation, depended not only upon the location along the cochlear partition from which it was recorded, but also upon acoustic frequency. For low-frequency acoustic signals (below 700 Hz), the increment in CM was greatest at turn I and decreased toward the apex. At 5 kHz, COCB stimulation produced no detectable increment in CM at turn I. The reduction in discharges of auditory nerve fibers produced by COCB stimulation was greatest (16–20 dB in titration) when best frequency lay between 7 and 10 kHz. As best frequency decreased, the reduction in discharge rate with COCB stimulation decreased. Nerve fibers with very high best frequencies also showed minimal COCB effects. These data are discussed in relation to other recent information.