Summary
The distribution of presumed GABAergic neurons and axon terminals in nuclei of the higher auditory pathway of the chicken was investigated by immunocytochemical methods employing antisera to the rate-limiting enzyme of GABA synthesis, glutamic acid decarboxylase, and to GABA. In the mesencephalic auditory center (MLD) about 20% of the cells reveal immunoreactivity. In contrast, the thalamic relay station nucleus ovoidalis is devoid of immunostained somata. This nucleus contains a high density of punctate immunoreactive structures presumed to be GABAergic axon terminals. In the auditory forebrain center field L and the auditory portions of the hyperstriatum ventrale, up to 8% of the cells were immunopositive. These neurons were significantly smaller than estimated from measurements of the overall cell population in these nuclei. From the two-dimensional arrangement of immunopositive neurons it is suggested that the GABAergic system in the avian auditory telencephalon consists of two separate groups of neurons: one subgroup mediating local inhibitory interactions, the other responsible for lateral inhibition between different frequency representations.
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This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 45)
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Müller, C.M. Distribution of GABAergic perikarya and terminals in the centers of the higher auditory pathway of the chicken. Cell Tissue Res. 252, 99–106 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213830
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213830