title: [Distribution of projection neurons of the superior olivary complex in the auditory brainstem in cats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the distribution and morphology of olivocochlear neurons of superior olivary complex in cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight adult cats were divided into 2 groups randomly. Cholera toxin B subunit was injected to the left cochlea and fluoro-gold was injected to the right cochlea in the experimental group (n=5). Saline was injected to bilateral cochlea in the control group (n=3). Brainstem tissue was sectioned serially. All of the sections were immunohistochemically treated with ABC and stained with DAB, and then the labelled olivocochlear neurons were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The labelled olivocochlear neurons in the experimental group were 2 518 in total. Of them, the number of lateral olivocochlear (LOC) neurons was 1 738 (69.0%), mainly located in the middle of the pons, predominantly projected ipsilaterally. The total of medial olivocochlear (MOC) neurons was 780 (31%), mainly located in dorsomedial periolivary nucleus, medial nucleus of the trapezoid body and ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body, mainly distributed in the rostral extent of the pons, predominantly projected contralaterally.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the distribution of olivocochlear neurons in cats, LOC neurons mainly project to the ipsilateral. While the projection of MOC neurons is predominantly contralateral, the distribution of MOC neurons is more adjacent to the rostral extent of the pons than LOC neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
authors.forename: Qing-lai
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Jing-jia
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yi-da
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xin-ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000166:cytology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000166:cytology*; D002415:Cats; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003051:Cochlea / Q000294:innervation; D017626:Cochlear Nucleus / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D009476:Neurons, Efferent / Q000166:cytology; D009847:Olivary Nucleus / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D002772:Cholera Toxin