Acoustic input to the lateral pontine nuclei. 1978

L M Aitkin, and J Boyd

Axon and terminal degeneration were studied in the cat dorsolateral pontine nucleus (DLPN) after lesion of the inferior colliculus. In separate experiments the acoustic responses of 111 units of the lateral pontine nuclei were studied in cats anesthetized with chloralose-urethane. Lesions of all three nuclei of the inferior colliculus (central, pericentral and external) lead to a very similar pattern of terminal degeneration in a discrete region of ipsilateral DLPN. This is suggestive of a highly convergent projection in which topography may be blurred. Most units responded to binaural stimulation, and the most common binaural response consisted of excitatory inputs from each ear which were facilitated at some binaural intensity levels and occluded at others. Discharge rates changed as a result of alterations in the number of spikes evoked at the onset of the stimulus, and sustained discharges were rarely encountered. Units were broadly and irregularly tuned; binaural inhibition was very uncommon. Unit response characteristics suggested that, while the projection from the inferior colliculus was highly convergent, only a subclass of inferior colliculus neurons may be involved. However, the acoustic properties of lateral pontine units were strikingly similar to those of the cerebellar vermis, a region to which DLPN is known to project.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009410 Nerve Degeneration Loss of functional activity and trophic degeneration of nerve axons and their terminal arborizations following the destruction of their cells of origin or interruption of their continuity with these cells. The pathology is characteristic of neurodegenerative diseases. Often the process of nerve degeneration is studied in research on neuroanatomical localization and correlation of the neurophysiology of neural pathways. Neuron Degeneration,Degeneration, Nerve,Degeneration, Neuron,Degenerations, Nerve,Degenerations, Neuron,Nerve Degenerations,Neuron Degenerations
D011149 Pons The front part of the hindbrain (RHOMBENCEPHALON) that lies between the MEDULLA and the midbrain (MESENCEPHALON) ventral to the cerebellum. It is composed of two parts, the dorsal and the ventral. The pons serves as a relay station for neural pathways between the CEREBELLUM to the CEREBRUM. Pons Varolii,Ponte,Pons Varolius,Pontes,Varolii, Pons,Varolius, Pons
D002415 Cats The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801) Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D005072 Evoked Potentials, Auditory The electric response evoked in the CEREBRAL CORTEX by ACOUSTIC STIMULATION or stimulation of the AUDITORY PATHWAYS. Auditory Evoked Potentials,Auditory Evoked Response,Auditory Evoked Potential,Auditory Evoked Responses,Evoked Potential, Auditory,Evoked Response, Auditory,Evoked Responses, Auditory,Potentials, Auditory Evoked
D000161 Acoustic Stimulation Use of sound to elicit a response in the nervous system. Auditory Stimulation,Stimulation, Acoustic,Stimulation, Auditory
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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