The relationship of saccular efferent neurons to the superior olive in the eel, Anguilla anguilla

Abstract

In the eel, horseradish peroxidase was applied to the saccular ramus of the eighth nerve to label auditory efferent neurons and was injected into the torus semicircularis to identify the superior olive. Efferent somata cluster close to the lateral lemniscus. The superior olive is also associated with the lateral lemniscus and is situated just rostral to and contiguous with the efferent population. Efferent cells can be distinguished from superior olivary neurons because of their larger size and their positive acetylcholinesterase reaction. It appears that in these fishes, as in mammals, auditory efferent neurons are closely associated with the superior olive.