Anatomical mapping of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-like and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD)-like immunoreactivity in outer hair cell efferents in adult rats

The Untouchable Ventral Nucleus of the Trapezoid Body: Preservation of a Nucleus in an Animal Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by repetitive behaviors, poor social skills, and difficulties with communication and hearing. The hearing deficits in ASD range from deafness to extreme sensitivity to routine environmental sounds. Previous research from our lab has shown drastic hypoplasia in the superior olivary complex (SOC) in both human cases of ASD and in an animal model of autism. However, in our study of the human SOC, we failed to find any changes in the total number of neurons in the ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body (VNTB) or any changes in cell body size or shape. Similarly, in animals prenatally exposed to the antiepileptic valproic acid (VPA), we failed to find any changes in the total number, size or shape of VNTB neurons. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that the neurotransmitter profiles, ascending and descending axonal projections of the VNTB are also preserved in these neurodevelopmental conditions. We investigated this hypothesis using a combination of immunohistochemistry and retrograde tract tracing. We found no difference between control and VPA-exposed animals in the number of VNTB neurons immunoreactive for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). Additionally, we investigated the ascending projections from the VNTB to both the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (CNIC) and medial geniculate (MG) and descending projections to the cochlea. Our results indicate no significant differences in the ascending and descending projections from the VNTB between control and VPA-exposed animals despite drastic changes in these projections from surrounding nuclei. These findings provide evidence that certain neuronal populations and circuits may be protected against the effects of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Diverse identities and sites of action of cochlear neurotransmitters

Accurate encoding of acoustic stimuli requires temporally precise responses to sound integrated with cellular mechanisms that encode the complexity of stimuli over varying timescales and orders of magnitude of intensity. Sound in mammals is initially encoded in the cochlea, the peripheral hearing organ, which contains functionally specialized cells (including hair cells, afferent and efferent neurons, and a multitude of supporting cells) to allow faithful acoustic perception. To accomplish the demanding physiological requirements of hearing, the cochlea has developed synaptic arrangements that operate over different timescales, with varied strengths, and with the ability to adjust function in dynamic hearing conditions. Multiple neurotransmitters interact to support the precision and complexity of hearing. Here, we review the location of release, action, and function of neurotransmitters in the mammalian cochlea with an emphasis on recent work describing the complexity of signaling.

The efferent medial olivocochlear-hair cell synapse

Amplification of incoming sounds in the inner ear is modulated by an efferent pathway which travels back from the brain all the way to the cochlea. The medial olivocochlear system makes synaptic contacts with hair cells, where the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is released. Synaptic transmission is mediated by a unique nicotinic cholinergic receptor composed of α9 and α10 subunits, which is highly Ca2+ permeable and is coupled to a Ca2+-activated SK potassium channel. Thus, hyperpolarization of hair cells follows efferent fiber activation. In this work we review the literature that has enlightened our knowledge concerning the intimacies of this synapse.

Olivocochlear innervation in the mouse: immunocytochemical maps, crossed versus uncrossed contributions, and transmitter colocalization

To further understand the roles and origins of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the efferent innervation of the cochlea, we first produced in the mouse an immunocytochemical map of the efferent terminals that contain acetylcholine (ACh), CGRP, and GABA. Olivocochlear (OC) terminals in inner and outer hair cell (IHC and OHC) regions were analyzed quantitatively along the cochlear spiral via light-microscopic observation of cochlear wholemounts immunostained with antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAT), or the peptide CGRP. Further immunochemical characterization was performed in mice with chronic OC transection at the floor of the fourth ventricle to distinguish crossed from uncrossed contributions and, indirectly, the contributions of lateral versus medial components of the OC system. The results in mouse showed that (1) there are prominent GABAergic, cholinergic, and CGRPergic innervations in the OHC and IHC regions, (2) GABA and CGRP are extensively colocalized with ACh in all OC terminals in the IHC and OHC areas, (3) the longitudinal gradient of OC innervation peaks roughly at the 10-kHz region in the OHC area and is more uniform along the cochlear spiral in the IHC area, (4) in contrast to other mammalian species there is no radial gradient of OC innervation of the OHCs, and (5) all OHC efferent terminals arise from the medial OC system and terminals in the IHC area arise from the lateral OC system.

Development of the inner ear efferent system across vertebrate species

Inner ear efferent neurons are part of a descending centrifugal pathway from the hindbrain known across vertebrates as the octavolateralis efferent system. This centrifugal pathway terminates on either sensory hair cells or eighth nerve ganglion cells. Most studies of efferent development have used either avian or mammalian models. Recent studies suggest that prevailing notions of the development of efferent innervation need to be revised. In birds, efferents reside in a single, diffuse nucleus, but segregate according to vestibular or cochlear projections. In mammals, the auditory and vestibular efferents are completely separate. Cochlear efferents can be divided into at least two distinct, descending medial and lateral pathways. During development, inner ear efferents appear to be a specific motor neuron phenotype, but unlike motor neurons have contralateral projections, innervate sensory targets, and, at least in mammals, also express noncholinergic neurotransmitters. Contrary to prevailing views, newer data suggest that medial efferent neurons mature early, are mostly, if not exclusively, cholinergic, and project transiently to the inner hair cell region of the cochlea before making final synapses on outer hair cells. On the other hand, lateral efferent neurons mature later, are neurochemically heterogeneous, and project mostly, but not exclusively to the inner hair cell region. The early efferent innervation to the ear may serve an important role in the maturation of afferent responses. This review summarizes recent data on the neurogenesis, pathfinding, target selection, innervation, and onset of neurotransmitter expression in cholinergic efferent neurons.

Triple Immunofluorescence Evidence for the Coexistence of Acetylcholine, Enkephalins and Calcitonin Gene-related Peptide Within Efferent (Olivocochlear) Neurons of Rats and Guinea-pigs

The efferent (olivocochlear) nerve supply to the cochlea is subdivided into a lateral and a medial innervation according to several criteria, e.g. locus of origin in the superior olivary complex and type of synaptic connections established in the organ of Corti. We have used a triple immunofluorescence colocalization approach to determine whether putative cholinergic neurons from the lateral innervation contain both metenkephalin and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and whether those from the medial innervation also contain CGRP. About 80% of the choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-like immunostained lateral efferent neurons within the lateral superior olive were CGRP- and metenkephalin-like immunostained. In the organ of Corti, colocalization of the three antigens within the inner spiral bundle was also found. This bundle contains the lateral efferent synapses, with the dendrites of the primary auditory neurons innervating the sensory inner hair cells. Most of the medial efferent neurons in the ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body were only immunoreactive for ChAT. However, in the rostral part of the nucleus, a minority of ChAT-like immunostained neurons were also CGRP-like immunostained. None of the ChAT-like immunostained medial efferent neurons presented metenkephalin-like immunostaining. In agreement with these brainstem data, partial colocalization of the ChAT- and CGRP-like immunostaining and a lack of metenkephalin immunoreactivity was noted below the sensory outer hair cells, which are the synaptic targets of medial efferent terminals in the organ of Corti. This distinction in the coexistence pattern of the two efferent innervations probably reflects distinct modes of action for acetylcholine in the cochlea. In one case, the effects of acetylcholine on the primary auditory neurons innervating the inner hair cells may require balanced modulation by metenkephalin and CGRP. In the other case, modulation of the effects of acetylcholine on the outer hair cells by neuropeptides would be less critical.

Localization of efferent neurotransmitters in the inner ear of the homozygous Bronx waltzer mutant mouse

Naturally occurring mutant mice provide an excellent model for the study of genetic malformations of the inner ear. Mice homozygous for the Bronx waltzer (bv/bv) mutation are severely hearing impaired or deaf and exhibit a 'waltzing' gait. Functional aspects of cochlear and vestibular efferents in the bv/bv mutant mouse are not well known. The present study was designed to evaluate several candidates of efferent neurotransmitters or neuromodulators including choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the inner ear of the bv/bv mutant mouse. Ultrastructural investigations at both light and electron microscopic level were performed. Ultrastructural morphologic evaluations of the cochlea and the vestibular end-organs were also undertaken. It is demonstrated that ChAT, GABA and CGRP immunoreactivities are present in the cochlea and in vestibular end-organs of bv/bv mutant mice. In the organ of Corti, immunoreactivity of ChAT, GABA and CGRP is confined to the inner spiral fibers, tunnel-crossing fibers, and the vesiculated nerve endings synapsing with outer hair cells. Interestingly, immunoreactivity was detectable even where inner hair cells appeared missing. Results also revealed malformations of the outer hair cells with synaptic contacts to efferent nerve endings consistently intact. In the neurosensory epithelia of the vestibular end-organs, the presence of ChAT, GABA, and CGRP immunoreactivity was localized at the vestibular efferents, with the exception of the macula of saccule. In one 8-month-old macula of utricle where the depletion of hair cells appeared highest, ChAT immunostaining was still discernible. Ultrastructural investigation demonstrated that vesiculated efferent nerve endings make synaptic contact with the outer hair cells in the organ of Corti and with type II hair cells in the vestibular end-organs. The present study provides further support that the efferent system in the bv/bv mutant inner ear is morphologically as well as functionally mature. These findings also demonstrate that if and when the onset of efferent degeneration in the bv/bv mutant inner ear occurs, it transpires subsequent to pathological conditions in the hair cells. The present findings give further indication that the efferent systems of the bv/bv mutant inner ear are independent of the afferent systems in many aspects including development, maturation as well as degeneration.

Ultrastructural localization of GABA-like immunoreactivity in the human utricular macula

In the vertebrate vestibular periphery, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has long been presumed to be a neurotransmitter candidate. However, experimental reports about the localization and function of GABA in the vestibular systems of vertebrates are contradictory. In addition, there is no information in the literature concerning the localization of GABA in the human vestibular periphery. The present study investigates the ultrastructural localization of GABA-like immunoreactivity in the human utricular macula. A modified pre-embedding immunostaining electron microscopy technique was applied using two different commercially available polyclonal antibodies to GABA. GABA-like immunoreactivity is confined to the vesiculated nerve fibers and terminals of the human vestibular neurosensory epithelia. The GABA-containing nerve terminals make asymmetrical axo-dendritic synapses with the afferent chalices surrounding the type I sensory hair cells. Type I and type II hair cells as well as afferent chalices are devoid of GABA-like immunoreactive staining. The present study demonstrates that GABA exists in the human vestibular periphery, and that GABA is a neurotransmitter candidate of the human efferent vestibular system.

Immunohistochemical evaluation of cholinergic neurons in the rat superior olivary complex

The cholinergic system in the rat superior olivary complex (SOC) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) and histochemistry for acetylcholinesterase (AChE). ChAT-positive somata were found mostly in the lateral superior olive (LSO) and ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body (VNTB). In the LSO, there were both rostral-caudal and medial-lateral gradients in concentration of ChAT-positive somata; the highest concentration was in the middle of the rostral-caudal extent and the most medial part. The estimated total number of ChAT-positive neurons in the LSO was similar to previous estimates of the total number of lateral olivocochlear neurons. Two groups of ChAT-positive somata were found in the VNTB: a dorsolateral group of larger, multipolar, and more darkly labeled neurons and a ventromedial group of smaller, oval, and more lightly labeled neurons, which was about 5 times as numerous. There was a caudal-to-rostral increase in number of neurons in each group. VAChT immunoreactivity, predominantly localized in puncta, was seen in LSO, VNTB, and LNTB, and, to a lesser extent, in other parts of the SOC. VAChT-positive somata were also found in the VNTB and medial LSO. This distribution pattern of VAChT was generally similar to that of ChAT. AChE labeling had a similar appearance to ChAT labeling in the VNTB but differed in the LSO, where AChE labeling was lighter and associated more with neuropil than with somata.

Ultrastructural localization of ChAT-like immunoreactivity in the human vestibular periphery

Acetylcholine (ACh) has long been considered a neurotransmitter candidate in the efferent vestibular system of mammals. Recently, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), the synthesizing enzyme for ACh, was immunocytochemically localized in all five end-organs of the rat vestibule (Kong et al. (1994) Hear. Res. 75, 192-200). However, there is little information in the literature concerning the cholinergic innervation in the vestibular periphery of man. In the present study the ultrastructural localization of the ChAT-like immunoreactivity in the human vestibular periphery was investigated in order to reveal the cholinergic innervation in the human vestibular end-organs. A modified method of pre-embedding immunoelectron microscopy was applied. It was found that the ChAT-like immunoreactivity was located in the bouton-type vesiculated nerve terminals in the vestibular neurosensory epithelia of man. These ChAT-like immunostained nerve terminals make synaptic contacts either with afferent chalices surrounding type I vestibular sensory hair cells, or with type II vestibular sensory hair cells. These results show that the ChAT-like immunoreactivity in the human vestibular periphery is confined to the efferent vestibular system. The ChAT-containing efferents innervate both type I hair cells and type II hair cells, making postsynaptic and presynaptic contacts, respectively. This study presents evidence that ACh is a neurotransmitter candidate in the efferent vestibular system of man.

Compound synapses within the GABAergic innervation of the auditory inner hair cells in the adolescent mouse

Ultrastructural investigation of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) component of the inner spiral bundle in adolescent mice revealed a pathway of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)-positive and -negative fibers and vesiculated endings that contact inner hair cells and their afferents through a complex of axosomatic and axodendritic synapses. Ultrastructural details were investigated by using conventional electron microscopy. Several synaptic arrangements were observed: Main axosomatic synapses form between vesiculated endings and individual or adjoining inner hair cells (interreceptor synapses). Spinous synapses form on long, spinelike processes that protrude from inner hair cells to reach distant efferent endings. The efferent endings associate with inner hair cells and their synaptic afferents through compound synapses-serial, "converging," and triadic-otherwise characteristic of sensory relay nuclei. Serial synapses form by the sequential presynaptic alignment of the efferent-->receptor-->afferent components. Converging synapses result from the simultaneous apposition of a receptor ribbon synapse and a presynaptic efferent terminal on a recipient afferent dendrite. Triadic synapses comprise a vesiculated efferent ending in contact with an inner hair cell and with its synaptic afferent. Additionally, efferent endings may form simple axodendritic and axoaxonal synapses with GAD-negative vesiculated endings. The combination of different synaptic arrangements leads to short chains of compound synapses. It is assumed that these synaptic patterns seen in the adolescent mouse represent adult synaptology. The patterns of synaptic connectivity suggest an integrative role for the GABA/GAD lateral efferent system, and imply its involvement in the pre- and postsynaptic modulation of auditory signals.

Immunocytochemical detection of choline acetyltransferase in the human organ of Corti

In the mammalian cochlea acetylcholine has been considered a major neurotransmitter of the lateral and medial efferent fibers. The aims of the present study were to investigate the expression of ChAT in the human cochlea and to develop a new method for immunohistochemical investigations in the human cochlea both at the light and electronmicroscopic level. We thus examined the ChAT-like immunoreactivity in the human inner ear using light and electron microscopy with a pre-embedding technique. Our present results agree with the previously published data acquired in rodent species. The ChAT-like immunostaining could be found in the inner spiral fibers, the inner spiral bundle, tunnel crossing fibers and at the base of the outer hair cells. No staining was noted in the negative controls experiments, while rat cochleas used as positive controls showed the usual ChAT-like immunostaining as described above. The main difference between human and rat cochleas was that the efferent nerve supply seems to be less pronounced in the human cochleas.

Localization of chat-like immunoreactivity in the vestibular endorgans of the rat

In vertebrates acetylcholine (ACh) has been generally considered as a neurotransmitter of the vestibular efferent system. The precise localization and innervation of the cholinergic nerve endings in the vestibular sensory periphery is still unknown. We examined choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-like immunoreactivity in all five endorgans of the rat vestibule with light and electron microscopy using a modified pre-embedding immunostaining technique. The results were: (1) ChAT-like immunoreactivity was widespread in all five endorgans of the vestibule and confined to the vesiculated efferent nerve endings. (2) Two types of ChAT-like immunostained nerve endings can be identified according to their size and innervation pattern: a large nerve ending and a small--middle size one. (3) Vestibular endorgans differ in their ChAT-like immunoreactivity: staining is dense in the macula of the utricule and the three ampullary cristae, but less so in the macula of the saccule. (4) We found also a regional difference of the ChAT-like immunostaining in ampullary crista. ChAT-like immunostained nerve endings were predominant in the periphery close to the semilunar plane, and less in density in the central area. These findings demonstrate that ACh is a major neurotransmitter in the vestibular efferent system.

Choline acetyltransferase-immunoreactive cochlear efferent neurons in the chick auditory brainstem

Cholinergic neurons in the chick auditory brainstem were studied with the aid of an antiserum to choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), the biosynthetic enzyme for acetylcholine. ChAT-immunoreactive (ChAT-I) neurons were found in a ventrolateral and a dorsomedial cell group. The ventrolateral group is a rostrocaudally directed column of cells that surround the superior olive (SO), are ventromedial to the ventral facial nucleus (VIIv), and are lateral to the nucleus pontis lateralis (PL) as far rostrally as the nucleus subceruleus ventralis. Cells in the dorsomedial group were found in the pontine reticular formation medial to the dorsal facial nucleus and lateral to the abducens nerve root. Occasionally, small ChAT-I cells were found in the crossed dorsal cochlear tract and in the medial vestibular nucleus near the dorsal border of the caudal nucleus magnocellularis (NM). No ChAT-I neurons or fibers were observed in NM, nucleus angularis, nucleus laminaris, in the nuclei of the lateral lemniscus, or in the nucleus mesencephalicus lateralis pars dorsalis. To determine which cholinergic neurons project to the cochlea, a double-labeling technique was used combining ChAT-I and the retrograde transport of biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) from the inner ear. Double-labeled cells were found bilaterally in both the ventrolateral and dorsomedial cell groups, with the exception of large ChAT-I cells dorsal to the SO, which do not appear to project to the cochlea. Cholinergic cells that project to the cochlea were classified into three morphological groups: multipolar, elongate, and round-to-oval. Both the ventrolateral and the dorsomedial cell groups appear to have a mixture of these different cell types. The average somal area of cholinergic cochlear efferents was 246 microns 2. Only about 70% of the cochlear efferent neurons, however, are cholinergic.

Ontogeny of gamma-aminobutyric acid in efferent fibers to the rat cochlea

Cochlear efferent innervation originates in two different groups of neurons located in the superior olivary complex. A first group of olivocochlear neurons (lateral efferent neurons) lies in the lateral superior olive. They send axons to the organ of Corti, where they synapse with radial afferent dendrites of primary auditory neurons, postsynaptic to the inner hair cells. The second group of neurons (medial efferent neurons) is found in medial subnuclei of the superior olivary complex and sends axons to synapse with outer hair cells. Subpopulations of both medial and lateral olivocochlear neurons probably use gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as a neurotransmitter. We have used an immunoperoxidase technique to detect GABA-like immunoreactivity (GABA-LI) in postnatal maturing rat cochleas. The GABA-LI appeared in the inner hair cell region by P3 (P1 = birth) and reached a mature appearance by P15-P16. In the outer hair cell region, GABA-like immunoreactive fibers and terminals could not be identified until P9 and they were only found in the apical end of the cochlea. There was a dual gradient of maturation of GABA-LI in the cochlea. The GABA-LI appeared first at the cochlear base and then extended towards the apex. It also appeared earlier (about a week) in the inner hair cell region than in the outer hair cell region. This dual gradient of maturation is in close agreement with previous data concerning the maturation of the cochlea.

Localisation of functional muscarinic receptors in the rat cochlea: evidence for efferent presynaptic autoreceptors

In the rat cochlea, the activation of muscarinic receptors stimulates the hydrolysis of phosphoinositides but the importance of this muscarinic effect is still unknown. In order to find out about the role of the muscarinic receptors in the cochlea, we examined their functional distribution within this organ. This was achieved by measuring the formation of [3H]inositol phosphates induced by carbachol (1 mM) in two regions of the cochlea: the modiolus and the organ of Corti. At both sites, carbachol enhanced the accumulation of inositol phosphates in an atropine-sensitive way. These stimulations were completely antagonised by 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methyl piperidine methiodide (1 microM) but unchanged by pirenzepine (1 microM). In cochleas depleted of outer hair cells by a treatment with amikacin, the carbachol-induced formation of inositol phosphates is not altered with respect to control, undamaged cochleas. Conversely, when the medial cholinergic axons which form synapses with the outer hair cells are destroyed by the section of the crossed olivocochlear bundle the carbachol-stimulated inositol phosphates response is reduced by 35% in the organ of Corti. This section has no effect in the modiolus, despite the degeneration of some modiolar fibers. Our results show that functional muscarinic receptors are distributed both in the organ of Corti and in the modiolus. These two structures contain presumably the same class of cholinoceptor. The effects of selective destruction clearly demonstrate that a population of muscarinic receptors is located on presynaptic membranes at the level of the medial axon-outer hair cell contacts. They also point to spiral ganglion neurons and/or the Schwann cells as sites for the functional cholinoceptors in the modiolus.

Inhibition of the carbachol-evoked synthesis of inositol phosphates by ototoxic drugs in the rat cochlea

The ability of amikacin, neomycin, ethacrynate, mercuric chloride and cisplatin to alter the inositol phosphate (IP) signalling pathway was assessed in the 12-day-old rat cochlea, where the turnover of IPs is coupled to muscarinic receptors. This study was motivated by: (1) the demonstration of neomycin binding to phosphatidylinositol 4,5-biphosphate, the precursor of IPs, and (2) the fact that ototoxic drugs induce some common symptoms in outer hair cells. At concentrations below 1 mM, none of the compounds changed the control 3H-IP formation. Mercuric chloride, cisplatin and ethacrynate inhibited the carbachol-induced formation of IPs in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 values of 74,340 and 430 microM, respectively. The aminoglycosides were less efficient in reducing the carbachol-stimulated accumulation of IPs, since neither amikacin nor neomycin, both at 1 mM, had any significant effect. However, neomycin applied at 15 and 30 microM induced 29% and 43% of inhibition of the stimulated IP response. Finally, additive effects are obtained between some of the toxic drugs. The results suggest that a block of the IP transduction system, associated with the cholinergic efferent innervation of the organ of Corti, is a feature that may be involved in some types of ototoxicity. The inefficiency of aminoglycosides and the putative targets of the ototoxic agents are discussed.

Efferent terminals in the cochlea of the mustached bat: quantitative data

Efferent terminals in the cochlea of the mustached bat were stained for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and quantitative data were obtained for the number and size of the endings on the outer hair cells (OHCs) in each row, from base to apex. From TEM micrographs and AChE-stained, surface preparations it was determined that every OHC had a single, large terminal. The mean size of the terminals was significantly different in each row, with the largest occurring in the first row (7.1 microns 2); the mean size in the second and third rows was 5.7 and 5.0 microns 2 respectively. In specific frequency processing regions, the largest mean size (8.4 microns 2) for first row OHCs was consistently found in the distal densely innervated (DDI) area. This region has afferent neurons that are sharply tuned to the second harmonic, constant frequency component of the bat's biosonar signals. Sudden changes in the size of the terminals were observed exactly at the boundaries of the DDI with adjacent sparsely innervated regions. Similar, but less striking, size changes also occurred in and adjacent to the proximal densely innervated (PDI) region, a harmonically related, sharply tuned region, which processes the bat's 91.5 kHz, third harmonic, constant frequency signals. The region of the cochlea with the smallest first row terminals (mean 5.3 microns 2) was the large, sparsely innervated region of the basal turn, a region that does not appear to process biosonar signals. Although the significance of differences in efferent terminal size is not known, the data suggest a possible correlation between OHC stimulation and sharp tuning. The potentially greater influence of the efferent fibers on the first row of OHCs, compared to other rows, is consistent with observations made on other mammals; in the latter, however, the greater influence has been suggested more by number than size. Unlike other mammals, the OHC efferents in the mustached bat have no clear base-to-apex gradient in the number or size of the efferent terminals. It is suggested that this might reflect the high frequency nature of the ear (6-120 kHz) and absence of low frequency hearing.

The innervation of the organ of Corti in the rat

To date our knowledge of the baso-apical distribution of the afferent and efferent nerve fibers innervating the organ of Corti is only fragmentary. This study makes an effort to lay the basis for a comprehensive analysis of cochlear innervation. Using a quantitative electronmicroscopic method, the fiber density of all cochlear fibers along the entire length of the cochlear duct was investigated in adult rats, Rattus norvegicus. Myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers in the primary osseous spiral lamina and afferent and efferent nerve fibers to the outer hair cells (OHCs) in the tunnel of Corti were counted. The rat cochlea is innervated by 19000 nerve fibers which consist of 79% afferent and 21% efferent fibers. The inner hair cells (IHCs) are innervated by 14000 afferent and 2000 efferent fibers. The OHCs are innervated by 1000 afferent and 2000 efferent fibers. The maximum fiber density of IHC afferents, OHC afferents and IHC efferents was found in the middle of the cochlea. This corresponds to the region at the basilar membrane where the frequency range of maximum sensitivity is located [8 kHz-31 kHz; Kelly and Masterton, J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 91, 930-936 (1977)]. The efferent nerve fibers to the OHCs consists of two different morphological sub-types: large fibers containing mitochondria and neurotubules (type I) and small fibers containing neurofilaments (type II). The fiber density of type I OHC efferents decreases from base to apex corresponding to the frequency dispersion along the basilar membrane. The fiber density of type II OHC efferents has maxima at the base and at the apex and a minimum in the middle of the cochlea. This minimum corresponds to the region at the basilar membrane where the frequency range of maximum sensitivity is located.