Early effects of efferent stimulation on the kitten cochlea.
Kittens from birth to one month were investigated by recording intracochlear potentials during electric stimulation of the crossed olivocochlear bundle (COCB). From the beginning, COCB stimulation induced strong inhibitory effects on cochlear responses to click. As has been demonstrated in the adult, these effects were an increase in cochlear microphonic and summating potentials, and a decrease in amplitude of the first negative component of the whole nerve action potential. Other variations were seen in the newborn animals, such as an increase of the amplitude of the second negative component and occurrence of a late negative component. The important role of the olivocochlear system during the first postnatal week was also demonstrated by comparing the dissipation time of the different effects at various stages of postnatal development. The strength of efferent inhibition during auditory system maturation is discussed.
Carlier
E
E
Laboratoire de Neurophysiologie Sensorielle, Université de Provence, Centre de St-Jérôme, 13397 Marseille Cedex 4 France.
Pujol
R
R