The Superior Paraolivary Nucleus

2018 ◽  
pp. 394-420
Author(s):  
Anna K. Magnusson ◽  
Marcelo Gómez-Álvarez
Keyword(s):  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Superior Olivary Complex ◽  
High Survival ◽  
Complex Sounds ◽  
Robust Detection ◽  
Medial Nucleus ◽  
Superior Paraolivary Nucleus ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Trapezoid Body

This chapter summarizes the current concepts of the superior paraolivary nucleus (SPON)—a structure embedded in the superior olivary complex in the mammalian auditory brainstem. SPON is driven by input pathways from two of the most temporally secure neurons in the brain: the octopus cells in the cochlear nucleus and the neurons of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body. These inputs activate spiking activity that marks the onset and offset of sound, the latter based on a rebound depolarization mechanism. This makes the SPON an excellent detector of transient sound energy. Robust detection of the coarse sound pattern over time further gives SPON the capacity to track the temporal envelope of complex sounds with supreme precision. Since the SPON circuitry is constant in mammals and resilient to sensory perturbation, it indicates its high survival value. A possible neuroevolutionary role of SPON in the processing of vocalizations is discussed.

scholarly journals Multiple Sources of Cholinergic Input to the Superior Olivary Complex

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nichole L. Beebe ◽  
Chao Zhang ◽  
R. Michael Burger ◽  
Brett R. Schofield
Keyword(s):  
Auditory System ◽  
Cholinergic Neurons ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Cholinergic Innervation ◽  
Superior Olivary Complex ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Cholinergic Modulation ◽  
Medial Nucleus ◽  
Trapezoid Body

The superior olivary complex (SOC) is a major computation center in the brainstem auditory system. Despite previous reports of high expression levels of cholinergic receptors in the SOC, few studies have addressed the functional role of acetylcholine in the region. The source of the cholinergic innervation is unknown for all but one of the nuclei of the SOC, limiting our understanding of cholinergic modulation. The medial nucleus of the trapezoid body, a key inhibitory link in monaural and binaural circuits, receives cholinergic input from other SOC nuclei and also from the pontomesencephalic tegmentum. Here, we investigate whether these same regions are sources of cholinergic input to other SOC nuclei. We also investigate whether individual cholinergic cells can send collateral projections bilaterally (i.e., into both SOCs), as has been shown at other levels of the subcortical auditory system. We injected retrograde tract tracers into the SOC in gerbils, then identified retrogradely-labeled cells that were also immunolabeled for choline acetyltransferase, a marker for cholinergic cells. We found that both the SOC and the pontomesencephalic tegmentum (PMT) send cholinergic projections into the SOC, and these projections appear to innervate all major SOC nuclei. We also observed a small cholinergic projection into the SOC from the lateral paragigantocellular nucleus of the reticular formation. These various sources likely serve different functions; e.g., the PMT has been associated with things such as arousal and sensory gating whereas the SOC may provide feedback more closely tuned to specific auditory stimuli. Further, individual cholinergic neurons in each of these regions can send branching projections into both SOCs. Such projections present an opportunity for cholinergic modulation to be coordinated across the auditory brainstem.

The Brain Stem Evoked Response and Medial Nucleus of the Trapezoid Body

1994 ◽  
Vol 110 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiyeko Tsuchitani
Keyword(s):  
Brain Stem ◽  
Action Potentials ◽  
Stimulus Onset ◽  
Evoked Response ◽  
Superior Olivary Complex ◽  
Lateral Superior Olive ◽  
Medial Nucleus ◽  
Brain Stem Evoked Response ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Trapezoid Body

Single-unit responses of cat superior olivary complex neurons to acoustic stimuli were examined to determine whether the units' action potentials were sufficiently synchronized to contribute to the brain stem evoked response. The medial nucleus of the trapezoid body and lateral superior olive are two major nuclei within the cat superior olivary complex. The first-spike discharge latencies of medial nucleus of the trapezoid body and lateral superior olivary neurons to monaural presentations of tone burst stimuli were measured as a function of stimulus level. Evidence is provided to support the hypotheses that in cat the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body may contribute directly to the monaural brain stem evoked response by producing action potentials synchronized to stimulus onset and may also contribute indirectly to the brain stem evoked response binaural difference wave bc by inhibiting the lateral superior olive unit excitatory responses synchronized to stimulus onset.

Neurons in the Medial Nucleus of the Trapezoid Body and Superior Paraolivary Nucleus of the Rat May Play a Role in Sound Duration Coding

2006 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 1499-1508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Kadner ◽  
Randy J. Kulesza ◽  
Albert S. Berrebi
Keyword(s):  
Spontaneous Activity ◽  
Time Window ◽  
Superior Olivary Complex ◽  
Medial Nucleus ◽  
Pure Tones ◽  
Superior Paraolivary Nucleus ◽  
Stimulus Offset ◽  
Sound Duration ◽  
Spike Latency ◽  
Trapezoid Body

We describe neurons in two nuclei of the superior olivary complex that display differential sensitivities to sound duration. Single units in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) and superior paraolivary nucleus (SPON) of anesthetized rats were studied. MNTB neurons produced primary-like responses to pure tones and displayed a period of suppressed spontaneous activity after stimulus offset. In contrast, neurons of the SPON, which receive a strong glycinergic input from MNTB, showed very little or no spontaneous activity and responded with short bursts of action potentials after the stimulus offset. Because SPON spikes were restricted to the same time window during which suppressed spontaneous activity occurs in the MNTB, we presume that SPON offset activity represents a form of postinhibitory rebound. Using characteristic frequency tones of 2- to 1,000-ms duration presented 20 dB above threshold, we show that the profundity and duration of the suppression of spontaneous activity in MNTB as well as the magnitude and first spike latency of the SPON offset response depend on stimulus duration as well as on stimulus intensity, showing a tradeoff between intensity and duration. Pairwise comparisons of the responses to stimuli of various durations revealed that the duration sensitivity in both nuclei is sharpest for stimuli <50 ms.

Perinatal Development of the Medial Nucleus of the Trapezoid Body

2018 ◽  
pp. 244-272
Author(s):  
Shobhana Sivaramakrishnan ◽  
Ashley Brandebura ◽  
Paul Holcomb ◽  
Daniel Heller ◽  
Douglas Kolson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Axon Guidance ◽  
Neural Circuit ◽  
Neural Cells ◽  
Calyx Of Held ◽  
Medial Nucleus ◽  
Target Neuron ◽  
Circuit Formation ◽  
Key Events ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Trapezoid Body

Bushy cells (BC) of the cochlear nucleus mono-innervate their target neuron, the principal cell of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB), via the calyx of Held (CH) terminal, which is a typically mammalian structure and perhaps the largest nerve terminal in the brain. CH:MNTB innervation has become an attractive model to study neural circuit formation because it forms quickly, passing through stages of competition in mice within 2–4 days. BCs innervate MNTB neurons by E17, but CHs do not begin to grow for another five days (P3). Progress has been made to identify molecular factors for axon guidance, CH growth, and physiological maturation of synaptic partners, but important details remain to be discovered. We summarize key events in CH formation and highlight unresolved issues in molecular and physiological signaling, roles for non-neural cells, and the nature of competition during the first postnatal week.

Early Appearance of Inhibitory Input to the MNTB Supports Binaural Processing During Development

2005 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
pp. 3826-3835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua S. Green ◽  
Dan H. Sanes
Keyword(s):  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Inhibitory Neurons ◽  
Superior Olivary Complex ◽  
Inhibitory Input ◽  
Inhibitory Influence ◽  
Binaural Processing ◽  
Medial Nucleus ◽  
Level Difference ◽  
Postsynaptic Action ◽  
Trapezoid Body

Despite the peripheral and central immaturities that limit auditory processing in juvenile animals, they are able to lateralize sounds using binaural cues. This study explores a central mechanism that may compensate for these limitations during development. Interaural time and level difference processing by neurons in the superior olivary complex depends on synaptic inhibition from the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB), a group of inhibitory neurons that is activated by contralateral sound stimuli. In this study, we examined the maturation of coding properties of MNTB neurons and found that they receive an inhibitory influence from the ipsilateral ear that is modified during the course of postnatal development. Single neuron recordings were obtained from the MNTB in juvenile (postnatal day 15–19) and adult gerbils. Approximately 50% of all recorded MNTB neurons were inhibited by ipsilateral sound stimuli, but juvenile neurons displayed a much greater suppression of firing as compared with those in adults. A comparison of the prepotential and postsynaptic action potential indicated that inhibition occurred at the presynaptic level, likely within the cochlear nucleus. A simple linear model of level difference detection by lateral superior olivary neurons that receive input from MNTB suggested that inhibition of the MNTB may expand the response of LSO neurons to physiologically realistic level differences, particularly in juvenile animals, at a time when these cues are reduced.

scholarly journals Physiological and anatomical investigation of the auditory brainstem in the Fat-tailed Dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Garrett ◽  
Virginia Lannigan ◽  
Nathanael Yates ◽  
Jennifer Rodger ◽  
Wilhelmina Mulders
Keyword(s):  
Auditory System ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Auditory Brainstem Responses ◽  
Superior Olivary Complex ◽  
Medial Superior Olive ◽  
Superior Olive ◽  
Medial Nucleus ◽  
Sminthopsis Crassicaudata ◽  
Nissl Stain

The fat-tailed Dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata) is a small (10-20g) native marsupial endemic to the south west of Western Australia. Currently little is known about the auditory capabilities of the dunnart, and of marsupials in general. Consequently, this study sought to investigate several electrophysiological and anatomical properties of the dunnart auditory system. Auditory brainstem responses (ABR) were recorded to brief (5ms) tone pips at a range of frequencies (4-47.5 kHz) and intensities to determine auditory brainstem thresholds. The dunnart ABR displayed multiple distinct peaks at all test frequencies, similar to other mammalian species. ABR showed the dunnart is most sensitive to higher frequencies increasing up to 47.5 kHz. Morphological observations (Nissl stain) revealed that the auditory structures thought to contribute to the first peaks of the ABR were all distinguishable in the dunnart. Structures identified include the dorsal and ventral subdivisions of the cochlear nucleus, including a cochlear nerve root nucleus as well as several distinct nuclei in the superior olivary complex, such as the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body, lateral superior olive and medial superior olive. This study is the first to show functional and anatomical aspects of the lower part of the auditory system in the Fat-tailed Dunnart.

Role of Ca2+ in the Synchronization of Transmitter Release at Calyceal Synapses in the Auditory System of Rat

2002 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 222-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nao Chuhma ◽  
Harunori Ohmori
Keyword(s):  
Transmitter Release ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Presynaptic Terminal ◽  
Eosin Y ◽  
Early Postnatal Development ◽  
Medial Nucleus ◽  
Combined Application ◽  
Asynchronous Release ◽  
Trapezoid Body

The synchronization of transmitter release in the synapse of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) is achieved during early postnatal development as a consequence of elimination of delayed asynchronous releases and appears to reflect changes in the dynamics of Ca2+ entry and clearance. To examine the role of Ca2+ in regulating synchronization of transmitter release in the mature synapse (after postnatal day 9, P9), we perturbed Ca2+ dynamics systematically. Replacement of external Ca2+ (2 mM) with Sr2+ induced delayed asynchronous release following the major EPSC. We tried to reproduce asynchronous releases without using Sr2+ and instead by manipulating the time course and the size of Ca2+ transient in the presynaptic terminal, under the assumption that replacement of external Na+ with Li+ or application of eosin-Y would prolong the lifetime of Ca2+ transient by reducing the rate of Ca2+ extrusion from the terminal. With application of Li+, Ca2+ transient in the terminal was prolonged, the EPSC decay time course was prolonged, and the EPSC amplitude increased. However, these EPSCs were not followed by delayed asynchronous release. When Ca2+ influx was reduced, either by partial Ca2+ channel blockade with a low concentration of Cd2+ or ω-agatoxin IVA, a marked asynchronous release resulted. This was further enhanced by the combined application of Li+ or eosin-Y. These results suggest that cooperative increases of both Ca2+ influx and Ca2+ clearance capacities leading to a sharper Ca2+ spike in the presynaptic terminal underlie synchronized transmitter release in the presynaptic terminal of the MNTB.

The Cl- channel TMEM16A controls the generation of cochlear Ca2+ waves and promotes the refinement of auditory brainstem networks

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alena Maul ◽  
Saša Jovanovic ◽  
Antje-Kathrin Huebner ◽  
Nicola Strenzke ◽  
Tobias Moser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hair Cells ◽  
Action Potentials ◽  
Auditory Pathway ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Supporting Cells ◽  
Cl Channel ◽  
Medial Nucleus ◽  
Conditional Deletion ◽  
Sensory Activity ◽  
Trapezoid Body

Before hearing onset (postnatal day 12 in mice), inner hair cells (IHC) spontaneously fire action potentials thereby driving pre-sensory activity in the ascending auditory pathway. The rate of IHC action potential bursts is modulated by inner supporting cells (ISC) of Kölliker's organ through the activity of the Ca2+ activated Cl- channel TMEM16A. Here we show that conditional deletion of Tmem16a in mice disrupts the generation of Ca2+ waves within Köllike's organ, reduces the burst firing activity and the frequency-selectivity of auditory brainstem neurons in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB), and also impairs the refinement of MNTB projections to the lateral superior olive (LSO). These results reveal the importance of the activity of Köllike's organ for the refinement of central auditory connectivity. In addition, our study suggests a mechanism for the generation of Ca2+ waves, which may also apply to other tissues expressing TMEM16A.

scholarly journals Strengthening of the efferent olivocochlear system leads to synaptic dysfunction and tonotopy disruption of a central auditory nucleus

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariano N. Di Guilmi ◽  
Luis E. Boero ◽  
Valeria C. Castagna ◽  
Adrián Rodríguez-Contreras ◽  
Carolina Wedemeyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hair Cells ◽  
Genetic Enhancement ◽  
Superior Olivary Complex ◽  
Synaptic Dysfunction ◽  
Efferent Innervation ◽  
Inner Hair Cells ◽  
Medial Nucleus ◽  
Olivocochlear System ◽  
Auditory Nucleus ◽  
Trapezoid Body

AbstractThe auditory system in many mammals is immature at birth but precisely organized in adults. Spontaneous activity in the inner ear plays a critical role in guiding this process. This is shaped by an efferent pathway that descends from the brainstem and makes transient direct synaptic contacts with inner hair cells (IHCs). In this work, we used an α9 cholinergic receptor knock-in mouse model (of either sex) with enhanced medial efferent activity (Chrna9L9’T, L9’T) to understand the role of the olivocochlear system in the correct establishment of auditory circuits. Wave III of auditory brainstem responses (which represents synchronized activity of synapses within the superior olivary complex) were smaller in L9’T mice, suggesting a central dysfunction. The mechanism underlying this functional alteration was analysed in brain slices containing the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB), where neurons are topographically organized along a medio-lateral axis. The topographic organization of MNTB physiological properties observed in WT mice was abolished in the L9’T mice. Additionally, electrophysiological recordings in slices evidenced MNTB synaptic alterations, which were further supported by morphological alterations. The present results suggest that the transient cochlear efferent innervation to IHCs during the critical period before the onset of hearing is involved in the refinement of topographic maps as well as in setting the correct synaptic transmission at central auditory nuclei.Significance StatementCochlear inner hair cells of altricial mammals display spontaneous electrical activity before hearing onset. The pattern and firing rate of these cells is crucial for the correct maturation of the central auditory pathway. A descending efferent innervation from the central nervous system contacts hair cells during this developmental window. The function of this transient efferent innervation remains an open question. The present work shows that the genetic enhancement of efferent function disrupts the orderly topographic distribution at the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body level and causes severe synaptic dysfunction. Thus, the transient efferent innervation to the cochlea is necessary for the correct establishment of the central auditory circuitry.

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