Sound localization ability and glycinergic innervation of the superior olivary complex persist after genetic deletion of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body
posted on 2014-09-24, 16:00authored byWalid Jalabi, Cornelia Kopp-Scheinpflug, Paul D. Allen, Emanuele Schiavon, Rita R. DiGiacomo, Ian D. Forsythe, Stephen M. Maricich
The medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) in the superior olivary complex (SOC) is an inhibitory hub considered critical for binaural sound localization. We show that genetic ablation of MNTB neurons in mice only subtly affects this ability by prolonging the minimum time required to detect shifts in sound location. Furthermore, glycinergic innervation of the SOC is maintained without an MNTB, consistent with the existence of parallel inhibitory inputs. These findings redefine the role of MNTB in sound localization and suggest that the inhibitory network is more complex than previously thought.
History
Citation
Journal of Neuroscience, 2013, 33 (38), pp. 15044-15049
Author affiliation
/Organisation/COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND PSYCHOLOGY/School of Biological Sciences/Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology