Effects of cochlear ablation on choline acetyltransferase activity in the rat cochlear nucleus and superior olive.
Using microdissection and quantitative microassay, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity was mapped in the cochlear nucleus (CN) and in the source nuclei of the olivocochlear bundle, the lateral superior olive and ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body. In control rats, gradients of ChAT activity were found within the major subdivisions of the CN and in the lateral superior olive. These gradients correlated with the known tonotopic organizations, with higher activities corresponding to locations representing higher sound frequencies. No gradient was found in the ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body. In rats surviving 7 days or 1 or 2 months after cochlear ablation, ChAT activity was increased 1 month after ablation in the anteroventral CN by 30-50% in most parts of the lesion-side and by 40% in the contralateral ventromedial part. ChAT activity in the lesion-side posteroventral CN was increased by approximately 40-50% at all survival times. Little change was found in the dorsal CN. Decreases of ChAT activity were also found ipsilaterally in the lateral superior olive and bilaterally in the ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body. Our results suggest that cholinergic neurons are involved in plasticity within the CN and superior olive following cochlear lesions.
Jin
Yong-Ming
YM
Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio 43614-5807, USA.
Godfrey
Donald A
DA
Sun
Yizhe
Y
D000818:Animals; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D002799:Cholinergic Fibers / Q000201:enzymology; D003051:Cochlea / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D017626:Cochlear Nucleus / Q000201:enzymology*; D003714:Denervation; D008297:Male; D009847:Olivary Nucleus / Q000201:enzymology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012683:Sensory Deprivation / Q000502:physiology; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase