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Tonotopic organization of the cochlear nucleus of the mustache bat, Pteronotus parnellii

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Summary

The tonotopic organization of the cochlear nucleus (CN) of the mustache bat, Pteronotus parnellii was studied by injecting horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in physiologically characterized CN-sites known to respond to a certain frequency. The tracer was transported by the branched fibers of the auditory nerve and bands of labeled terminals were found in each of the CN-subdivisions. Low to high frequencies are orderly represented in rostrocaudal direction in the anteroventral CN (AV) and in ventrodorsal direction in the posteroventral (PV) and dorsal CN (DCN). In all 3 subnuclei a vast overpresentation of the frequency band between 54–66 kHz, which includes the dominant second harmonic of the echolocation calls, is superimposed on this basic mammalian pattern of frequency representation. A deviation from the standard mammalian scheme of tonotopic arrangement is found in the cytoarchitecturally distinct ‘marginal cell group’ (MA). This cell group extends in rostrocaudal direction along the medial margin of the AV, and the frequency representation in its most rostral 2 thirds is biased towards the low frequency range of the faint first harmonic of the echolocation call (24–32 kHz). Consequently the low frequencies lie adjacent to the regular slab organization of the range of higher frequencies represented in the AV. The temporal response patterns of MA neurons to tone stimuli are predominantly phasic or onset-types, in contrast to the ‘primary like’ response type which prevails in the AV. The frequency representation and the physiological characteristics of the MA group can be relevant in the context of target range determination by echolocation.

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Abbreviations

AV :

anteroventral cochlear nucleus

AV a :

anterior part of AV

AV p :

posterior part of AV

BF :

best frequency

CF :

constant frequency component of echolocation calls

CN :

cochlear nucleus

DAB :

diaminobenzidine

DCN :

dorsal cochlear nucleus

EP :

evoked potential

FM :

frequency modulated component of echolocation calls

HRP :

horseradish peroxidase

LSO :

lateral superior olive

IC :

inferior colliculus

MA :

marginal cell group

MAl :

lateral part of MA

MAm :

medial part of MA

OAE :

otoacoustic emission

PV :

posteroventral cochlear nucleus

PVl :

lateral part of PV

PV m :

medial part of PV

PV c :

caudal part of PV (octopus cell region)

RF :

resting frequency

SEOAE :

synchronous evoked OAE

TMB :

tetramethylbenzidine

VIII :

eight nerve

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Author notes

  1. Manfred Kössl

    Present address: School of Biology, University of Sussex, BN19QG, Falmer, Brighton, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoologisches Institut, Universität München, Luisenstr. 14, D-8000, München 2, Federal Republic of Germany

    Manfred Kössl & Marianne Vater

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  1. Manfred Kössl
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  2. Marianne Vater
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Kössl, M., Vater, M. Tonotopic organization of the cochlear nucleus of the mustache bat, Pteronotus parnellii . J Comp Physiol A 166, 695–709 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00240019

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