title: In vitro induction of microcyst-like structures in the superior olivary complex.
abstract: To investigate the etiology of hole formation in the gerbil and rat central auditory system, organotypic cultures were grown in control and veratridine-containing media. The latter condition is known to increase neuronal activity. Tissue was obtained at postnatal day 6 and grown for 6-9 days in vitro, a period prior to the formation of holes in vivo. In both rats and gerbils, veratridine led to the appearance of large numbers of holes, and these were phenotypically similar to those found in vivo. These results support the idea that hole formation is an activity-dependent phenomenon, and suggest that it is not restricted to the mature gerbil auditory system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8041, USA. ilsa.schwartz@yale.edu
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hafidi
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Sanes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003560:Cysts / Q000209:etiology; D005849:Gerbillinae; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000209:etiology; D009847:Olivary Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D051381:Rats; D013045:Species Specificity; D014701:Veratridine
chemical_list: D014701:Veratridine