Ipsilateral Lateral Superior Olivary Nucleus Research Articles

Anatomy of olivocochlear neurons in the hamster studied with FluoroGold

The golden hamster ( Mesocricetus auratus) is often used in auditory research, but little is known about the anatomical organization of its olivocochlear (OC) neurons, the source of the efferent innervation of the organ of Corti. Accordingly, we labeled the OC neurons projecting to one cochlea by means of retrograde axonal transport of FluoroGold ®. In four animals, all labeled OC neurons were counted and digital images of the labeling were captured and analyzed morphometrically. In one case, a 3D computer reconstruction of the bilateral distribution of OC neurons was made. The largest group of OC neurons was comprised by small, intrinsic lateral OC neurons within the ipsilateral lateral superior olivary nucleus (LSO), almost all of which (97%) were located ipsilaterally. The second largest group consisted of medial OC neurons in the ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body, 75% of which were located contralaterally. The smallest group consisted of shell neurons surrounding the LSO, 80% of which projected ipsilaterally. These three types of neurons are generally similar in morphology and distribution to those previously described in the rat and the chinchilla. However, there were several unique findings, including the fact that the hamster possesses the smallest total number of OC neurons (mean 341) of any rodent yet studied.

Olivocochlear neurons in the chinchilla: a retrograde fluorescent labelling study

Although the chinchilla is widely used as a model for auditory research, little is known about the distribution and morphology of its olivocochlear neurons. Here, we report on the olivocochlear neurons projecting to one cochlea, as determined by single and double retrograde fluorescent tracer techniques. 10 adult chinchillas were anesthetized and given either unilateral or bilateral injections of a fluorescent tracer (either Fluoro-Gold or Fast Blue) into scala tympani or as a control, a unilateral injection into the middle ear cavity. The results indicate that there are similarities as well as significant differences between the chinchilla and other species of rodents in the distributions of their olivocochlear neurons. Based on three well-labelled cases, there was a mean total of 1168 olivocochlear neurons in the chinchilla. Of these, the majority (mean 787) were small, lateral olivocochlear neurons found almost exclusively within the ipsilateral lateral superior olivary nucleus. The next largest group consisted of a mean of 280 medial olivocochlear neurons virtually all of which were located in the dorsomedial peri-olivary nucleus. Chinchilla medial olivocochlear neurons were more predominantly crossed in their projections (4:1) than in any known species. The smallest group of olivocochlear neurons (mean 101) consisted of larger lateral olivocochlear neurons (shell neurons) which were located on the margins of the superior olivary nucleus and which projected mainly (2.2:1) ipsilaterally. Double retrograde labelling was observed only in medial olivocochlear neurons and occurred in only 1–2% of these cells. The results confirm previous findings which indicated a relative paucity of fibers belonging to the uncrossed as compared to the crossed olivocochlear bundle. This, together with the strong apical bias of the uncrossed projection reported previously, offers possible explanations for the apparent absence of efferent-mediated suppressive effects of contralateral acoustic stimulation in this species. Regarding the lateral olivocochlear system, the chinchilla is shown to possess both intrinsic and shell neurons, as in the rat.

Sources of input to the cochlear granule cell region in the guinea pig

Anterograde and retrograde transport of fluorogold was used to trace input to the superficial granule cell layer of the ventral cochlear nucleus in the guinea pig. Infusion of fluorogold into the labyrinth resulted in heavy labeling of eighth nerve axons and their terminals in the ventral cochlear nucleus, but only a few labeled axons entered the granule cell layer. Injections of fluorogold restricted to the granule cell layer retrogradely labeled neurons in the ipsilateral lateral superior olivary nucleus, in the periolivary region predominantly contralaterally, and in the inferior colliculus predominantly ipsilaterally. Labeled neurons were also present in the ipsilateral ventral cochlear nucleus, but this may be due to interruption of axons of passage in the lateral ventrotubercular tract. Overall this study demonstrates very restricted direct cochlear input to the granule cell region, but provides evidence for projections from several brainstem auditory nuclei.

Development of glycinergic cells and puncta in nuclei of the superior olivary complex of the postnatal ferret

The distribution of glycine-immunopositive cells and axonal endings was studied in the adult and early postnatal ferret superior olive. As in other species, the most prominent glycine-immunopositive cell group in the adult ferret superior olive was the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body. Other darkly immunostained cells were present, although more scattered, in most periolivary regions, including the lateral and ventral trapezoid body nuclei. In the lateral superior olivary nuclei, glycine-immunopositive cells were intermingled with immunonegative cells. A comparable population of cells in the ipsilateral lateral superior olivary nucleus was retrogradely labeled in cases with unilateral injections of tritiated glycine in the inferior colliculus. Glycine-immunopositive puncta were widely distributed in the neuropil in most periolivary regions, including dense accumulations in the dorsomedial periolivary region and ventral and lateral nuclei of the trapezoid body. In the lateral and medial superior olivary nuclei, immunopositive puncta were distributed around the principal cells in characteristic perisomatic halos. In postnatal ferrets, immunopositive cell bodies were first observed by postnatal day 7 and were distributed in regions comparable to regions in the adult, with the exception that immunopositive cells in the lateral superior olivary nucleus did not appear until about postnatal day 28. There was diffuse staining in the neuropil in principal and periolivary nuclei by postnatal day 7. During the third postnatal week, the immunostaining in the neuropil began to take on a more granular appearance and immunopositive puncta could be seen by postnatal day 35. In the lateral and medial superior olivary nuclei, the earliest distribution of immunostaining in the neuropil was nonuniform, being greater in the high-frequency, medial, and ventral regions, respectively. The density gradient in these areas was gradually eliminated over the next 2 postnatal weeks as immunostained processes and endings appeared over greater portions of the nuclei.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide in the efferent system of the inner ear. A review.

Many calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactive (CGRP-IR) fibers were found in the vestibular end-organs and the cochlea of rats. CGRP-IR fibers in the vestibular end-organs originated in the bilateral cell groups dorsolateral to the genu of the facial nerve. These fibers formed a fiber plexus at the base of the sensory epithelia in the maculae of the otolith organs and the ampullae of the semicircular canals, and formed synaptic contacts with the nerve chalice on type I vestibular sensory cells. CGRP-IR fibers in the cochlea originated in the ipsilateral lateral superior olivary nucleus. Most of them existed in the inner spiral bundle under the inner hair cells, and formed synaptic contacts with afferent terminals on the inner hair cells. These findings suggest a postsynaptic modulation of CGRP on the vestibular and cochlear information at the level of type I vestibular sensory cells and the inner hair cells.

Superior olivary and lateral lemniscal neurons projecting to the cochlea in the guinea pig

Efferent neurons to the cochlea in the guinea pig were observed in the superior olivary complex and ventral lateral lemniscal nuclei after injection of WGA-HRP into the cochlea via the round window. Of HRP-labeled nerve cells found in the brainstem, about 60% and 10% were located in the ipsilateral lateral superior olivary nucleus (LSO) and the contralateral ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body (VTB), respectively. A few labeled neurons were found in the ipsilateral VTB, contralateral LSO and the bilateral superior paraolivary nucleus (SPO). Seven percent and 5% of the labeled neurons were definitely observed in the ventrocaudal part of the contra- and ipsilateral ventral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus (VLL), respectively. A combination of acetylcholine esterase (AChE) histochemistry with the tracing of retrograde axonal transport of a fluorescent dye (DAPI) revealed that VLL neurons projecting to the cochlea, as well as about 85% of LSO neurons projecting to the ipsilateral cochlea, were AChE-positive.

Retrograde transport of [ 3H]- d-aspartate label by cochlear and vestibular efferent neurons

[3H]-D-aspartic acid was injected into the inner ear of rats. After a six hour survival time, labeled cells were found at all locations known to contain efferent cochlear or vestibular neurons. Most labeled neurons were found in the ipsilateral lateral superior olivary nucleus (LSO), although both ventral nuclei of the trapezoid body (VTB), group E, and the caudal pontine reticular nucleus (CPR) just adjacent to the ascending limb of the facial nerve also contained labeled cells. Because not all efferent neurons in the rat could be previously shown to be cholinergic, aspartate and glutamate are efferent transmitter candidates.

The presence of a calcitonin gene-related peptide in the olivocochlear bundle in rat

The origins of calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactive (CGRPI) fibers in the cochlea were examined in rats. Parasagittal transection of the brain just medial to the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus resulted in the ipsilateral disappearance of CGRPI fibers in the cochlea, indicating that the origins of these fibers lie in the central nervous system. Next, we used a highly sensitive method combining retrograde tracing and immunohistochemistry to identify the origins of the CGRPI fibers in the cochlea. After injection of biotin-wheat germ agglutinin (b-WGA) into the cochlea, CGRPI neurons in the ipsilateral lateral superior olivary nucleus also contained b-WGA granules. These findings indicated that CGRPI efferent fibers are major components of the olivocochlear bundle.

Efferent innervation of the cochlea.

The origin of the efferent innervation of the cochlea was investigated in the guinea pigs. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was injected into the cochlea and transported to the brainstem by retrograde axonal transport of the efferent fibers, showing the origin of the crossed an uncrossed olivocochlear bundles of Rasmussen. HRP-labeled neurons were found in various nuclei of the superior olivary complex bilaterally. Ipsilateral to the injected cochlea ther were three times more cells than on the contralateral side. About 40% of the total number of labeled neurons, a remarkable quantity, occurred in the ipsilateral lateral superior olivary nucleus. Moreover, extraolivary origin of the efferent innervation of the cochlea could be demonstrated bilaterally in the ventral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus.

Untersuchungen zur efferenten Innervation der Cochlea beim Meerschweinchen mit Meerrettich-Peroxydase

The origin of the efferent innervation of the cochlea was investigated by retrograde axonal transport of intracochlear administered horseradish peroxydase solution (HRP). Frontal frozen sections of the brain stem were reacted for the demonstration of HRP. Labeled neurons were found bilaterally in the superior olivary complex, especially in the ipsilateral lateral superior olivary nucleus (LSO) and in the ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body (VTB) contralaterally. Moreover, extraolivary origin of the efferent innervation of the cochlea could be demonstrated in the ventral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus (VLL) bilaterally.

Ascending and intrinsic projections of the superior olivary complex in the cat.

The ascending and intrinsic projections of the superior olivary complex (SO) in the cat were investigated by injection of 3H-leucine and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in SO and the inferior colliculus (IC), respectively. A topically arranged projection was demonstrated from the nucleus of the trapezoid body (NTB) to the ipsilateral lateral superior olivary nucleus (LSO) wiht a lesser connection in the opposite direction. The medial superior olivary nucleus (MSO) has a strictly ipsilateral projection, whilst LSO projects symmetrically through the lateral lemniscus (LL) of both sides, to end with topically arranged terminals in the ventrolateral part of the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (CNIC). Terminal labelling found in the ventral and dorsal nuclei of LL (VNLL and DNLL) probably represents collaterals from bypassing fibres originating in MSO and LSO, respectively. These results were demonstrated by both techniques, whilst in addition the HRP method revealed an ipsilateral and contralateral projection to IC from VNLL and DNLL, respectively.

The origins, course and distribution of the dorsal and intermediate acoustic striae in the rhesus monkey.

AbstractAttempts were made to produce discrete stereotactic lesions in the dorsal cochlear nucleus (Dc) in a series of rhesus monkeys. Anterograde degeneration was studied using Nauta and Fink‐Heimer techniques. Following lesions confined to the caudal pole of Dc, a few degenerated fibers projected to the contralateral lateral superior olivary nucleus via the dorsal acoustic stria. Degeneration was distributed to the contralateral ventral and to a lesser extent dorsal nuclei of the lateral lemniscus. The contralateral central nucleus of the inferior colliculus was a major site of termination of second order auditory fibers; a small number of degenerated fibers ascended to this nucleus ipsilaterally, and a few crossed in its commissure. A few degenerated fibers also were present in the contralateral magnocellular division of the medial geniculate body.When Dc was damaged at levels which overlie the posteroventral cochlear nucleus (Pv), or after lesions involving both subdivisions, degeneration was seen in the intermediate as well as in the dorsal acoustic stria. Fibers arising in Pv coursed through Dc and were interrupted by lesions in the latter. In addition to degeneration described above, fibers projected to the ipsilateral lateral superior olivary nucleus, contralateral medial trapezoid nucleus, and bilaterally to dorsal retroolivary and to preolivary cell groups. No degeneration was seen in the trapezoid body. Lesions involving the posteroventral and anteroventral (Av) cochlear nuclei produced degeneration in the intermediate acoustic stria and in the trapezoid body, but not in the dorsal stria. Degeneration in the intermediate acoustic stria was similar to that present after lesions affecting Dc and Pv. Thus, since Av does not project crossed fibers to this structure, these findings indicate that Pv sends some fibers to the contralateral as well as ipsilateral lateral superior olivary nucleus.