Evaluating the plasticity potential of the auditory brain stem nucleus in the rat.
OBJECTIVE
To study the adaptation of the auditory brainstem to auditory loss.


METHODS
Growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) immunoreactivity was studied in in rats whose cochleas had been removed.


CONCLUSIONS
Neurons in the lateral superior olive were found to synthesize GAP-43 in a pattern that paralleled the changes in GAP-43 immunoreactivity in the cochlear nucleus after cochlear ablation. These findings suggest that new patterns of synaptic communication can be established after damage to the cochlea.
Illing
R B
RB
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Freiburg, Germany.
Förster
C R
CR
Horváth
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000166:cytology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000166:cytology*; D017626:Cochlear Nucleus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000601:surgery; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats