Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Projection from the inferior colliculus to the superior olivary complex in the albino rat

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Anatomy and Embryology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The origin and termination of the fibers projecting from the inferior colliculus to the superior olivary complex have been studied in rat by means of the Fink and Heimer and horseradish peroxidase techniques (anterograde and retrograde transport of free horseradish peroxidase and peroxidase conjugated to wheat germ agglutinin). The colliculoolivary fibers originate in layer 3 of the external cortex and the adjacent part of the central nucleus, particularly in the former. Via the lateral lemniscus the fibers reach the ipsilateral periolivary region where they terminate in the rostral and medioventral zones. The terminal field contains at least two types of cells which could constitute the next link in the descending projection to the cochlea and/or the cochlear nuclei. One of these is the large olivocochlear neuron, and the other a smaller neuron projecting to the cochlear nuclei. Judged by their topographic relationship in the inferior colliculus and in the superior olive, the colliculoolivary neurons may form a link in a oligosynaptic projection from the auditory cortex to the cochlea and/or the cochlear nuclei. The observations are based on light microscopy, however, and do not allow conclusions concerning synaptic contacts.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

A :

aqueduct

BIC :

brachium of IC

BC :

brachium conjunctivum

BP :

brachium pontis

Cb :

cerebellum

CN :

central nucleus of IC

CoIC :

commissure of IC

CoLL :

commissure of the lateral lemniscus

CP :

cerebral peduncle

CPO :

caudal zone of periolivary region

CR :

corpus restiforme

CS :

corticospinal tract

DC :

dorsal cortex of IC

DCN :

dorsal cochlear nucleus

DMPO :

dorsomedial zone of periolivary region

DNLL :

dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus

EC :

external cortex of IC

IC :

inferior colliculus

INLL :

intermediate nucleus of the lateral lemniscus

IO :

inferior olivary complex

LL :

lateral lemniscus

LSO :

lateral nucleus of SO

LVPO :

lateroventral zone of periolivary region

ML :

medial lemniscus

MVPO :

medioventral zone of periolivary region

NTB :

nucleus of the trapezoid body

OP :

optic layer of SSC

P :

pyramidal tract

PAG :

periaqueductal grey

PN :

pontine nuclei

Re :

recess of IC

RF :

reticular formation

RPO :

costral zone of periolivary region

RS :

rubrospinal tract

SaS :

subarachnoidal space

SC :

superior colliculus

SO :

superior olivary complex

SPN :

superior periolivary nucleus

Sp5 :

trigeminal spinal tract

TB :

trapezoid body

VCN :

ventral cochlear nucleus

VD :

dorsal vestibular nucleus

VL:

lateral vestibular nucleus

VM :

medial vestibular nucleus

VNLL :

ventral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus

VR :

rostral vestibular nucleus

IV :

forth ventricle

1–3 :

layers of EC

5 :

trigeminal nucleus

5N :

trigeminal nerve

7 :

facial nucleus

7N :

facial nerve

8C :

cochlear nerve

8V :

vestibular nerve

References

  • Adams JC (1975) Ascending and descending projections to the inferior colliculus. Soc Neurosci Abstr 6th Annual meeting, p 37

  • Adams JC (1976) Central projections to the cochlear nucleus. Soc Neurosci Abstr 2:12

    Google Scholar 

  • Adams JC (1979) Ascending projections to the inferior colliculus. J CompNeurol 183:519–538

    Google Scholar 

  • Adams JC (1983a) Cytology of periolivary cells and the organization of their projections in the cat. J Comp Neurol 215:275–289

    Google Scholar 

  • Adams JC (1983b) Multipolar cells in the ventral cochlear nucleus project to the dorsal cochlear nucleus and the inferior colliculus. Neurosci Lett 37:205–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Adams JC, Mugnaini E (1984) GAD-like immunoreactivity in the ventral cochlear nucleus. Soc Neurosci Abstr 10:393

    Google Scholar 

  • Adams JC, Warr WB (1976) Origins of axons in the cat's acoustic striae determined by injection of horseradish peroxidase into severed tracts. J Comp Neurol 170:107–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Altman J, Carpenter MB (1961) Fiber projections of the superior colliculus in the cat. J Comp Neurol 116:157–177

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersen RA, Roth GL, Aitkin LM, Merzenich MM (1980a) The efferent projections of the central nucleus and the pericentral nucleus of the inferior colliculus in the cat. J Comp Neurol 194:649–662

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersen RA, Snyder RL, Merzenich MM (1980b) The topographic organization of corticocollicular projections from physiologically identified loci in the AI, AII and anterior auditory cortical fields of the cat. J Comp Neurol 191:479–494

    Google Scholar 

  • Borg E (1973) A neuroanatomical study of the brainstem auditory system of the rabbit. Part II. Descending connections. Acta Morphol Neerl-Scand 11:49–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Brodal A (1981) Neurological anatomy in relation to clinical medicine, 3. edn. Oxford University Press, New York Oxford, pp 602–639

    Google Scholar 

  • Brodal P (1972) The corticopontine projection in the cat. The projection from the auditory cortex. Arch Ital Biol 110:119–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Brodal P, Dietrichs E, Bjaalie JG, Nordby T, Walberg F (1983) Is lectin-coupled horseradish peroxidase taken up and transported by undamaged as well as by damaged fibers in the central nervous system? Brain Res 278:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Brownell WE (1983) Observations on a motile response in isolated outer hair cells. In: Webster WR, Aitkin LM (eds) Mechanisms of hearing. Monash University Press, Clayton, Victoria, p 5

    Google Scholar 

  • Cajal SRy (1909) Histologie du système nerveux de l'homme et des vertébrès. Maloine, Paris, pp 153–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Cant NB, Cassaday JH (1986) Projections from the anteroventral cochlear nucleus to the lateral and medial superior olivary nuclci. J Comp Neurol 247:457–476

    Google Scholar 

  • Cant NB, Gaston KC (1982) Pathways connecting the right and left cochlear nuclei. J Comp Neurol 212:313–326

    Google Scholar 

  • Cant NB, Morest DK (1984) The structural basis for stimulus coding in the cochlear nucleus of the cat. In: Berlin C (ed) Hearing science: recent advances, chapter 11. College-Hill Press, San Diego, pp 371–421

    Google Scholar 

  • Carey CL, Webster DB (1971) Ascending and descending projections of the inferior colliculus in the Kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami). Brain Behav Evol 4:401–412

    Google Scholar 

  • Caviness VS (1975) Architectonic map of neocortex of the normal mouse. J Comp Neurol 164:247–264

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis H (1983) An active process in cochlear mechanics. Hear Res 9:79–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Dietrichs E, Walberg F, Haines DE (1985a) Cerebellar nuclear afferents from feline hypothalamus demonstrated by retrograde transport after implantation of crystalline wheat germ agglutinin — horseradish peroxidase complex. Neurosci Lett 54:129–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Dietrichs E, Walberg F, Nordby T (1985b) The cerebellar nucleoolivary and olivo-cerebellar nuclear projections in the cat as studied with anterograde and retrograde transport in the same animal after implantation of crystalline WGA-HRP. I. The dentate nucleus. Neurosci Res 3:52–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Druga R, Syka J (1984) Ascending and descending projections to the inferior colliculus in the rat. Physiol Bohemoslov 33:31

    Google Scholar 

  • Elverland HH (1977) Descending connections between the superior olivary and cochlear nuclear complexes in the cat studied by autoradiographic and horseradish peroxidase methods. Exp Brain Res 27:397–412

    Google Scholar 

  • Elverland HH (1978) Ascending and intrinsic projections of the superior olivary complex in the cat. Exp Brain Res 32:117–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Faye-Lund H (1985) The neocortical projection to the inferior colliculus in the albino rat. Anat Embryol 173:53–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Faye-Lund H, Osen KK (1985) Anatomy of the inferior colliculus in rat. Anat Embryol 171:1–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Fink RP, Heimer L (1967) Two methods for selective silver impregnation of degenerating axons and their synaptic endings in the central nervous system. Brain Res 4:369–374

    Google Scholar 

  • Flock Å, Cheung HC, Flock B, Utter G (1981) Three sets of actin filaments in sensory cells of the inner ear. Identification and functional orientation determined by gel electrophoresis, immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. J Neurocytol 10:133–147

    Google Scholar 

  • Glendenning KK, Hutson KA, Nudo RJ, Masterton RB (1985) Acoustic chiasm II: anatomical basis of binaurality in lateral superior olive of cat. J Comp Neurol 232:261–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonatas NK, Harper C, Mizutani T, Gonatas JO (1979) Superior sensitivity of conjugates of horseradish peroxidase with wheat germ agglutinin for studies of retrograde axonal transport. J Histochem Cytochem 27:728–734

    Google Scholar 

  • Guinan JJ, Warr WB, Norris BE (1983) Differential olivocochlear projections from lateral versus medial zones of the superior olivary complex. J Comp Neurol 221:358–370

    Google Scholar 

  • Guinan JJ, Warr WB, Norris BE (1984) Topographic organization of the olivocochlear projections from the lateral and medial zones of the superior olivary complex. J Comp Neurol 226: 21–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Hashikawa T (1983) The inferior colliculopontine neurons of the cat in relation to other collicular descending neurons. J Comp Neurol 219:241–249

    Google Scholar 

  • Herkenham M, Nauta WJH (1977) Afferent connections of the habenular nuclei in the rat. A horseradish peroxidase study, with a note on the fiber-of-passage problem. J Comp Neurol 173:123–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawamura K (1975) The pontine projection from the inferior colliculus in the cat. An experimental anatomical study. Brain Res 95:309–322

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawamura K, Brodal A (1973) The tectopontine projection in the cat: an experimental anatomical study with comments on pathways for teleceptive impulses to the cerebellum. J Comp Neurol 149:371–390

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiss A, Majorossi K (1983) Neuron morphology and synaptic architecture in the medial superior olivary nucleus. Exp Brain Res 52:315–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Koelle GB, Friedenwald JS (1949) A histochemical method for localizing cholinesterase activity. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 70:617–622

    Google Scholar 

  • Mantyh PW (1980) Afferent and efferent connections of periaqueductal grey in the monkey. Soc Neurosci Abstr 10:39

    Google Scholar 

  • Mesulam M-M (1978) Tetramethyl benzidine for horseradish peroxidase neurohistochemistry: a non-carcinogenic blue reactionproduct with superior sensitivity for visualizing neural afferents and efferents. J Histochem Cytochem 26:106–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitani A, Shimokouchi M (1985) Neuronal connections in the primary auditory cortex: an electrophysiological study in the cat. J Comp Neurol 235:417–429

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore RY, Goldberg JM, (1966) Projections of the inferior colliculus in the monkey. Exp Neurol 14:429–438

    Google Scholar 

  • Mori J, Hori N, Katsuda N (1981) A new method for application of horseradish peroxidase into a restricted area of the brain. Brain Res Bull 6:19–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Mower G, Gibson A, Glickstein M (1979) Tectopontine pathway in the cat: laminar distribution of cells of origin and visual properties of target cells in dorsolateral pontine nucleus. J Neurophysiol 42:1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Mugnaini E, Oertel WH (1985) An atlas of the distribution of GABA-ergic neurons and terminals in the rat. CNS as revealed by GAD immunohistochemistry. In: Bjørklund A, Høgfelt T (eds) GABA and Neuropeptides in the CNS, part 1 (Handbook of Chemical Neuroanatomy, vol 4). Elseviers Science Publishers BV, Amsterdam, pp 436–608

    Google Scholar 

  • Mugnaini E, Warr WB, Osen KK (1980) Distribution and light microscopic features of granule cells in the cochlear nuclei of cat, rat and mouse. J Comp Neurol 191:581–606

    Google Scholar 

  • Nauta WJH (1957) Silver impregnation of degenerating axons. In: Windle WF (ed) New Research techniques of Neuroanatomy. Charles C Thomas, Springfield Ill., pp 17–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Noort J van (1969) The structure and connections of the inferior colliculus. An investigation of the lower auditory system. Proefschrift, van Gorcum and Comp NV Leiden, pp 1–118

  • Osen KK (1969) Cytoarchitecture of the cochlear nuclei in the cat. J Comp Neurol 136:453–484

    Google Scholar 

  • Osen KK (1972) Projection of the cochlear nuclei on the inferior colliculus in the cat. J Comp Neurol 144:355–372

    Google Scholar 

  • Osen KK, Roth K (1969) Histochemical localization of cholinesterase in the cochlear nuclei of the cat, with notes on the origin of acetylcholinesterase-positive afferents and the superior olive. Brain Res 16:165–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Osen KK, Mugnaini E, Dahl A-L, Christiansen AH (1984) Histochemical localization of acetylcholinesterase in the cochlear and superior olivary nuclei. A reappraisal with emphasis on the cochlear granule cell system. Arch Ital Biol 122:169–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen GL (1955) Descending or “feed-back” connections of auditory system of the cat. Am J Physiol 183:653

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen GL (1964) Anatomic relationships of the ascending and descending auditory systems. In: Fields WJ, Alford BR (eds) Neurological aspects of auditory and vestibular disorders. Thomas, Springfield, pp 5–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryugo DK, Willard RH, Fekete DM (1981) Differential afferent projections to the inferior colliculus from the cochlear nucleus in the albino mouse. Brain Res 210:342–349

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz IR, Ryan AF (1986) Amino acid labeling patterns in the efferent innervation of the cochlea: an electron microscopic autoradiographic study. J Comp Neurol 246:500–512

    Google Scholar 

  • Spangler KM, Henkel CK (1982) Some efferent projections of the dorsomedial periolivary region. Soc Neurosci Abstr 8:347

    Google Scholar 

  • Strelioff D, Flock Å (1982) Mechanical properties of hair bundles of receptor cells in the guinea pig cochlea. Soc Neurosci Abstr 8:40

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka K, Otani K, Tokunaga A, Sugita S (1985) The organization of neurons in the nucleus of the lateral lemniscus projecting to the superior and inferior colliculi in the rat. Brain Res 341:252–260

    Google Scholar 

  • Tokunaga A, Sugita S, Otani K (1984) Auditory and non-auditory subcortical afferents to the inferior colliculus in the rat. J Hirnforsch 25:461–472

    Google Scholar 

  • Vetter DE, Mugnaini E (1985) Discrete bilateral GABAergic neuron pools at the commissures of superior and inferior colliculi in the rat. Soc Neurosci Abstr 11:246

    Google Scholar 

  • Walberg F, Nordby T, Dietrichs E (1980) A note on the anterograde transport of horseradish peroxidase within the olivocerebellar fibers. Exp Brain Res 40:233–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Warr WB (1975) Olivocochlear and vestibular efferent neurons of the feline brain stem: their location, morphology, and number determined by retrograde axonal transport and acetylcholinesterase histochemistry. J Comp Neurol 161:159–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Warr WB (1978) The olivocochlear bundle: its origins and terminations in the cat. In: Nauton RF, Fernandez C (eds) Evoked electrical activity in the auditory nervous system. Academic Press, New York, pp 43–65

    Google Scholar 

  • White JS, Warr WB (1983) The dual origins of the olivocochlear bundle in the albino rat. J Comp Neurol 219:203–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitley JM, Henkel CK (1984) Topographical organization of the inferior collicular projection and other connections of the ventral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus in the cat. J Comp Neurol 229:257–270

    Google Scholar 

  • Willard FH, Martin GF (1983) The auditory brainstem nuclei and some of their projections to the inferior colliculus in the North American opossum. Neuroscience 10:1203–1232

    Google Scholar 

  • Willard FH, Ryugo DK (1983) Anatomy of the central auditory system. In: Willot JF (ed) The auditory psychobiology of the mouse. Thomas, Springfield, pp 201–304

    Google Scholar 

  • Zook JM (1985) The descending auditory pathway and the cochlear nucleus in the mustache bat. Soc Neurosci Abstr 11:734

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anatomical Institute, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Hilde Faye-Lund

Authors
  1. Hilde Faye-Lund
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Faye-Lund, H. Projection from the inferior colliculus to the superior olivary complex in the albino rat. Anat Embryol 175, 35–52 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315454

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315454

Key words

Search

Navigation