[Innervation of medial olivocochlear efferents in the cochlea of gerbils].
To explore the distributions of the medial olivocochlear (MOC) fibers and terminals in the cochlea of Mongolian gerbils and their physiological significance, a quantitative study on the distribution of MOC efferent fibers and terminals in whole cochlea of gerbils was performed using histochemical staining of acetylcholinesterase in the surface preparations. The relation between the density and size of MOC fibers and terminals in the cochlea and cochlear place-frequency map was analysed. The results were that the MOC fibers and terminals unevenly spreaded in the cochlea; the densest and the thickest MOC fibers and terminals were found in the distal part of the base turn and the second turn. These results demonstrate that the distribution of MOC fibers and terminals in the cochlea of gerbils is closely related to the function of frequency analysis of the cochlea.
Wu
W J
WJ
Department of Otolaryngology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Hunan Medical University, Changsha 410011.
Xie
D H
DH
D000818:Animals; D003051:Cochlea / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D005849:Gerbillinae; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology