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Central auditory system of the kangaroo rat, Dipodomys merriami
Author(s) -
Webster Douglas B.,
Ackermann Robert F.,
Longa Giampaolo C.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/cne.901330407
Subject(s) - lateral lemniscus , nissl body , inferior colliculus , biology , anatomy , nucleus , superior olivary complex , auditory system , cytoarchitecture , neuroscience , central nervous system , inferior olivary nucleus , staining , genetics
Kangaroo rat brains were studied grossly and microscopically and with several types of histological preparations to describe for the first time this animal's central auditory system and to determine whether previously described peripheral modifications are correlated with central modifications. With but one exception each nucleus of the central auditory system of the kangaroo rat is prominent and easily distinguished. The medial superior olivary nucleus and the dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus are especially hypertrophied. The dorsal cochlear nucleus, composing most of the large area acoustica, is organized into three cell‐type layers. The ventral cochlear nucleus is morphologically divided into six regions, corresponding to the scheme of Harrison and Irving for the albino rat but with serveral important differences. The spindle‐shaped cells of the lateral and medial superior olivary nuclei are of two types: one in narrow (8 μ) and stains deeply in Nissl stains; the other is broader (15 μ) and stains lightly in Nissl stains. A group of large multipolar cells lying between the dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus and the base of the inferior colliculus is described for the first time; their connections are undetermined. The possible significance of the prominent central auditory system is descussed briefly and related to the proposals of other workers for animals previously described.