scholarly journals A Novel Class of Inferior Colliculus Principal Neurons Labeled in Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide-Cre Mice

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Goyer ◽  
Marina A. Silveira ◽  
Alexander P. George ◽  
Nichole L. Beebe ◽  
Ryan M. Edelbrock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inferior Colliculus ◽  
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ◽  
Speech Processing ◽  
Cochlear Nucleus ◽  
Temporal Integration ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Dorsal Cochlear Nucleus ◽  
Multifaceted Approach ◽  
Inhibitory Circuits

AbstractLocated in the midbrain, the inferior colliculus (IC) is the hub of the central auditory system. Although the IC plays important roles in speech processing, sound localization, and other auditory computations, the organization of the IC microcircuitry remains largely unknown. Using a multifaceted approach in mice, we have identified vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) neurons as a novel class of IC principal neurons. VIP neurons are glutamatergic stellate cells with sustained firing patterns. Their extensive axons project to long-range targets including the auditory thalamus, auditory brainstem, superior colliculus, and periaqueductal gray. Using optogenetic circuit mapping, we found that VIP neurons integrate input from the contralateral IC and the dorsal cochlear nucleus. The dorsal cochlear nucleus also drove feedforward inhibition to VIP neurons, indicating that inhibitory circuits within the IC shape the temporal integration of ascending inputs. Thus, VIP neurons are well-positioned to influence auditory computations in a number of brain regions.

scholarly journals A novel class of inferior colliculus principal neurons labeled in vasoactive intestinal peptide-Cre mice

eLife ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Goyer ◽  
Marina A Silveira ◽  
Alexander P George ◽  
Nichole L Beebe ◽  
Ryan M Edelbrock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inferior Colliculus ◽  
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ◽  
Speech Processing ◽  
Cochlear Nucleus ◽  
Temporal Integration ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Dorsal Cochlear Nucleus ◽  
Multifaceted Approach ◽  
Inhibitory Circuits

Located in the midbrain, the inferior colliculus (IC) is the hub of the central auditory system. Although the IC plays important roles in speech processing, sound localization, and other auditory computations, the organization of the IC microcircuitry remains largely unknown. Using a multifaceted approach in mice, we have identified vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) neurons as a novel class of IC principal neurons. VIP neurons are glutamatergic stellate cells with sustained firing patterns. Their extensive axons project to long-range targets including the auditory thalamus, auditory brainstem, superior colliculus, and periaqueductal gray. Using optogenetic circuit mapping, we found that VIP neurons integrate input from the contralateral IC and the dorsal cochlear nucleus. The dorsal cochlear nucleus also drove feedforward inhibition to VIP neurons, indicating that inhibitory circuits within the IC shape the temporal integration of ascending inputs. Thus, VIP neurons are well-positioned to influence auditory computations in a number of brain regions.

scholarly journals Long range channelrhodopsin-assisted circuit mapping of inferior colliculus neurons with blue and red-shifted channelrhodopsins

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Goyer ◽  
Michael T. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Patch Clamp ◽  
Inferior Colliculus ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Cochlear Nucleus ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Dorsal Cochlear Nucleus ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Patch Clamp Recording

ABSTRACTWhen investigating neural circuits, a standard limitation of the in vitro patch clamp approach is that axons from multiple sources are often intermixed, making it difficult to isolate inputs from individual sources with electrical stimulation. However, by using channelrhodopsin assisted circuit mapping (CRACM) this limitation can now be overcome. Here, we report a method to use CRACM to map ascending inputs from lower auditory brainstem nuclei and commissural inputs to an identified class of neurons in the inferior colliculus (IC), the midbrain nucleus of the auditory system. In the IC, local, commissural, ascending, and descending axons are heavily intertwined and therefore indistinguishable with electrical stimulation. By injecting a viral construct to drive expression of a channelrhodopsin in a presynaptic nucleus, followed by patch clamp recording to characterize the presence and physiology of channelrhodopsin-expressing synaptic inputs, projections from a specific source to a specific population of IC neurons can be mapped with cell type-specific accuracy. We show that this approach works with both Chronos, a blue light-activated channelrhodopsin, and ChrimsonR, a red-shifted channelrhodopsin. In contrast to previous reports from the forebrain, we find that ChrimsonR is robustly trafficked down the axons of dorsal cochlear nucleus principal neurons, indicating that ChrimsonR may be a useful tool for CRACM experiments in the brainstem. The protocol presented here includes detailed descriptions of the intracranial virus injection surgery, including stereotaxic coordinates for targeting injections to the dorsal cochlear nucleus and IC of mice, and how to combine whole cell patch clamp recording with channelrhodopsin activation to investigate long-range projections to IC neurons. Although this protocol is tailored to characterizing auditory inputs to the IC, it can be easily adapted to investigate other long-range projections in the auditory brainstem and beyond.SUMMARYChannelrhodopsin-assisted circuit mapping (CRACM) is a precision technique for functional mapping of long-range neuronal projections between anatomically and/or genetically identified groups of neurons. Here, we describe how to utilize CRACM to map auditory brainstem connections, including the use of a red-shifted opsin, ChrimsonR.

Diffusion Tensor Imaging of Auditory Pathway in Patients With Crigler-Najjar Syndrome Type I: Correlation With Auditory Brainstem Response

2021 ◽  
pp. 088307382110258
Author(s):  
Ahmed Abdel Khalek Abdel Razek ◽  
Mohamed Ezz El Regal ◽  
Mortada El-Shabrawi ◽  
Mohamed Moustafa Abdeltawwab ◽  
Ahmed Megahed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
Inferior Colliculus ◽  
Cochlear Nucleus ◽  
Auditory Brainstem Response ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Type I ◽  
Syndrome Type ◽  
Brainstem Response ◽  
Olivary Nucleus

Aim: To evaluate the role of diffusion tensor imaging of the auditory pathway in patients with Crigler Najjar syndrome type I and its relation to auditory brainstem response. Methods: Prospective study was done including 12 patients with Crigler Najjar syndrome type I and 10 age- and sex-matched controls that underwent diffusion tensor imaging of brain. Mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy at 4 regions of the brain and brainstem on each side were measured and correlated with the results of auditory brainstem response for patients. Results: There was significantly higher mean diffusivity of cochlear nucleus, superior olivary nucleus, inferior colliculus, and auditory cortex of patients versus controls on both sides for all regions ( P = .001). The fractional anisotropy of cochlear nucleus, superior olivary nucleus, inferior colliculus, and auditory cortex of patients versus controls was significantly lower, with P values of, respectively, .001, .001, .003, and .001 on the right side and .001, .001, .003, and .001 on left side, respectively. Also, a negative correlation was found between the maximum bilirubin level and fractional anisotropy of the left superior olivary nucleus and inferior colliculus of both sides. A positive correlation was found between the mean diffusivity and auditory brainstem response wave latency of the right inferior colliculus and left cochlear nucleus. The fractional anisotropy and auditory brainstem response wave latency of the right superior olivary nucleus, left cochlear nucleus, and inferior colliculus of both sides were negatively correlated. Conclusion: Diffusion tensor imaging can detect microstructural changes in the auditory pathway in Crigler Najjar syndrome type I that can be correlated with auditory brainstem response.

scholarly journals Noise-induced hyperactivity in the inferior colliculus: its relationship with hyperactivity in the dorsal cochlear nucleus

2012 ◽  
Vol 108 (4) ◽  
pp. 976-988 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. F. Manzoor ◽  
F. G. Licari ◽  
M. Klapchar ◽  
R. L. Elkin ◽  
Y. Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spontaneous Activity ◽  
Inferior Colliculus ◽  
Cochlear Nucleus ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Dorsal Cochlear Nucleus ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Intense Noise ◽  
And Control

Intense noise exposure causes hyperactivity to develop in the mammalian dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) and inferior colliculus (IC). It has not yet been established whether the IC hyperactivity is driven by hyperactivity from extrinsic sources that include the DCN or instead is maintained independently of this input. We have investigated the extent to which IC hyperactivity is dependent on input from the contralateral DCN by comparing recordings of spontaneous activity in the IC of noise-exposed and control hamsters before and after ablation of the contralateral DCN. One group of animals was binaurally exposed to intense sound (10 kHz, 115 dB SPL, 4 h), whereas the control group was not. Both groups were studied electrophysiologically 2–3 wk later by first mapping spontaneous activity along the tonotopic axis of the IC to confirm induction of hyperactivity. Spontaneous activity was then recorded at a hyperactive IC locus over two 30-min periods, one with DCNs intact and the other after ablation of the contralateral DCN. In a subset of animals, activity was again mapped along the tonotopic axis after the time course of the activity was recorded before and after DCN ablation. Following recordings, the brains were fixed, and histological evaluations were performed to assess the extent of DCN ablation. Ablation of the DCN resulted in major reductions of IC hyperactivity. Levels of postablation activity in exposed animals were similar to the levels of activity in the IC of control animals, indicating an almost complete loss of hyperactivity in exposed animals. The results suggest that hyperactivity in the IC is dependent on support from extrinsic sources that include and may even begin with the DCN. This finding does not rule out longer term compensatory or homeostatic adjustments that might restore hyperactivity in the IC over time.

The spatial representation of frequency in the rat dorsal cochlear nucleus and inferior colliculus

1988 ◽  
Vol 36 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 181-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen F Ryan ◽  
Zabrina Furlow ◽  
Nigel K Woolf ◽  
Elizabeth M Keithley
Keyword(s):  
Inferior Colliculus ◽  
Cochlear Nucleus ◽  
Spatial Representation ◽  
Dorsal Cochlear Nucleus
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