菊头幅出生后下丘听神经元反应特性的演化

实验在出生后1周到6周的幼年和成年鲁氏菊头蝠(Rhinolophusrouxi)上进行。结果发现,出生第1周的动物下丘听神经元对超声刺激反应的最佳频率低,潜伏期长,阈值高。它们的平均值分别为:31.24±14.08千赫,16.56±3.83毫秒和74.24±6.22dB。同时,调谐曲线宽阔,Q10-dB值小,其均值为2.34±0.96。随着周令增长,上述特性逐渐改变。到第6周时,最佳频率的均值发展到70.16±19.16千赫,最佳频率分布峰值也移至75—85千赫的高频段,反应潜伏期均值降至8.12±1.86毫秒,阈值均值降至32.82±26.36dB,已出现相当多具有非常陡削调谐曲线的神精元,Q10-dB值在20以上者占到80％,有的高达100以上,已接近成年动物。     

菊头幅出生后下丘听神经元反应特性的演化

实验在出生后1周到6周的幼年和成年鲁氏菊头蝠(Rhinolophusrouxi)上进行。结果发现,出生第1周的动物下丘听神经元对超声刺激反应的最佳频率低,潜伏期长,阈值高。它们的平均值分别为:31.24±14.08千赫,16.56±3.83毫秒和74.24±6.22dB。同时,调谐曲线宽阔,Q10-dB值小,其均值为2.34±0.96。随着周令增长,上述特性逐渐改变。到第6周时,最佳频率的均值发展到70.16±19.16千赫,最佳频率分布峰值也移至75—85千赫的高频段,反应潜伏期均值降至8.12±1.86毫秒,阈值均值降至32.82±26.36dB,已出现相当多具有非常陡削调谐曲线的神精元,Q10-dB值在20以上者占到80％,有的高达100以上,已接近成年动物。     

电刺激蝙蝠中脑上丘对下丘听神经元电活动的影响

实验在24只鲁氏菊头蝠(Rhinolophus rouxi)上进行.使用玻璃微电极在中脑下丘中央核记录听神经元电反应.刺激点位于上丘核.共观察了294个对超声刺激产生反应的下丘听单位.当电刺激上丘时,有122个听单位的反应受到影响,占所观察总数的41.5%.其中96个单位表现为抑制性影响(占32.65%),26个单位表现为易代性效应(占8.84%).其余172个单位不受上丘刺激的影响(58.50%).实验中发现,上述抑制潜伏期一般在5毫秒以上,抑制时程较长.抑制程度与上丘刺激电流强度呈相关关系(r=0.99).实验中还发现,刺激上丘同样可抑制部分下丘神经元的自发放电活动,其抑制后效应相当长,有的可达120毫秒以上.     

电刺激蝙蝠小脑对下丘神经元听反应的影响

实验在34只长翼蝠(Miniopterus schrebersi)上进行.使用玻璃微电极在中脑下丘中央核记录听神经元电反应.电刺激点分别位于小脑蚓部、半球和绒球小结叶共观察了515个对超声刺激产生反应的下丘听神经元.当电刺激小脑时,有171个(占33.2%)神经元听反应受到影响.其中126个(占24.5%)表现为抑制,45个(8.7%)表现为易化.抑制效应表现为神经元所反应放电频数降低和反应潜伏期延长.易化效应则相反.抑制与易化潜伏期一般都在6毫秒以上.抑制效应与电刺激强度、声刺激强度以及声刺激和电刺激的时间间隔有关.抑制和易化性影响都是双侧性的.     

幼年蝙蝠下丘神经元的听空间特性

实验分别在出生后４周龄的幼年和成年鲁氏菊头蝠（Ｒｈｉｎｏｌｏｐｈｕｓｒｏｕｘｉ）上进行。使用移动声刺激装置,高频喇叭可在动物头部前方水平方向１８０度、垂直方向６０度的范围内移动。玻璃微电极记录单个神经元的听反应。实验考察了幼年和成年动物下丘神经元的听空间特性,共观察了３０１个神经元,其中幼年动物１４８个,成年动物１５３个。结果表明,４周龄的幼年动物下丘听神经元已表现出方向敏感性,即每个听神经元均有一个特定的最佳反应中心和反应域。但神经元听反应中心在听空间的分布相当弥散,大多数位于对侧水平方向２０—８０度、垂直方向上下１５度范围内。而成年动物听神经元反应中心的分布则相当集中,局限地分布于对侧水平方向２８－５０度,垂直方向０—１０度范围内,两者构成明显差异。     

菲菊头蝠的下丘神经元基本声反应特性

自由声场刺激条件下，采用单单位胞外微电极记录方法，研究了一种未被研究过的恒频/调频(CF/FM)蝙蝠——菲菊头蝠(Rhinolophus pusillus)的下丘神经元基本声反应特性，其结果发现，在所得的110个下丘神经元中，发放类型包括相位型(54.5%)、紧张型(25.5%)、持续型(7.3%)、梳齿型(7.3%)和暂停型(5.4%)等5种类型。记录深度在208～1 855(829.0±328.1)μm之间，最佳频率在16.7～75.6(38.9±15.7)kHz之间，最小阈值在5～74(34.7±13.6)dB SPL之间，阈上10 dB SPL潜伏期在5.0～27.5(15.2±3.9)ms之间。最佳频率随记录深度的增加而增大(r=0.957 8，P<0.001)；记录的54个频率调谐曲线(FTCs)均为开放型，其中52个为单峰型，2个为双峰型。52个单峰型FTC的Q_10-dB值介于1.56～31.61之间，并且大部分是狭窄型(Q _10-dB值>5)，占69.2%(36/52)，少部分为宽阔型(Q _10-dB值<5)，占30.8%(16/52)。2个双峰型神经元FTC在低频处为宽阔型，高频处为狭窄型，Q _10-dB值分别为1.95、8和2.89、6.51。共获得34个神经元的强度－发放率函数(RIFs)，可分为单调型、非单调型和饱和型。结合先前所研究的FM蝙蝠——普通伏翼蝠(Pipistrellus abramus)下丘神经元的基本声反应特性，比较分析了CF/FM蝙蝠与FM蝙蝠下丘神经元的声反应差异及其行为学意义。     

硕螽(Deracantha onos)听觉中间神经元的声反应特征

本文报道了硕螽听通路单个听觉中间神经元的声反应特征。依据动作电位发放模式的不同,听觉中间神经元可分为两类,即紧张型与相位型。紧张型听觉中间神经元属于窄凋谐带神经元,敏感的频率范围8—18千赫,反应最佳频率在12千赫附近,与同种雄硕螽叫声的主能峰相匹配。相位型听觉中间神经元属于宽调谐带神经元,有二个敏感频率范围,分别为5—8千赫和12—18千赫。它们对声强度的编码方式也不一样:分别以动作电位的数目与反应潜伏期对声强编码。本文还讨论了不同类型听觉中间神经元的功能意义。     

普通伏翼蝠下丘神经元基本声反应特性

自由声场条件下,采用单单位胞外微电极记录方法,研究了普通伏翼蝠(Pipistrellusabramus)下丘神经元基本声反应特性。结果发现,在所得的65个下丘神经元中:特征频率在18.9~76.7kHz(42.94±11.29)之间,最小阈值在29.1~80.1dBSPL(58.65±12.62)之间,潜伏期在3.1~10.4ms(6.10±1.47)之间;特征频率随记录深度的增加而增大,与最小阈值之间没有显著相关性;发放类型包括相位型(73.85%)、梳齿型(15.38%)和紧张型(10.77%)3种基本类型;频率调谐曲线均为开峰型,多数神经元(72.30%)调谐曲线较宽阔,少数(27.70%)较狭窄,并且多数神经元的频率调谐曲线高频边比低频边陡。     

菲菊头蝠的下丘神经元基本声反应特性

自由声场刺激条件下,采用单单位胞外微电极记录方法,研究了一种未被研究过的恒频/调频(CF/FM)蝙蝠———菲菊头蝠(Rhinolophuspusillus)的下丘神经元基本声反应特性,其结果发现,在所得的110个下丘神经元中,发放类型包括相位型(54·5%)、紧张型(25·5%)、持续型(7·3%)、梳齿型(7·3%)和暂停型(5·4%)等5种类型。记录深度在208~1855(829·0±328·1)μm之间,最佳频率在16·7~75·6(38·9±15·7)kHz之间,最小阈值在5~74(34·7±13·6)dBSPL之间,阈上10dBSPL潜伏期在5·0~27·5(15·2±3·9)ms之间。最佳频率随记录深度的增加而增大(r=0·9578,P<0·001);记录的54个频率调谐曲线(FTCs)均为开放型,其中52个为单峰型,2个为双峰型。52个单峰型FTC的Q10-dB值介于1·56~31·61之间,并且大部分是狭窄型(Q10-dB值>5),占69·2%(36/52),少部分为宽阔型(Q10-dB值<5),占30·8%(16/52)。2个双峰型神经元FTC在低频处为宽阔型,高频处为狭窄型,Q10-dB值分别为1·95、8和2·89、6·51。共获得34个神经元的强度-发放率函数(RIFs),可分为单调型、非单调型和饱和型。结合先前所研究的FM蝙蝠———普通伏翼蝠(Pipistrellusabramus)下丘神经元的基本声反应特性,比较分析了CF/FM蝙蝠与FM蝙蝠下丘神经元的声反应差异及其行为学意义。     

蟾蜍延脑听中枢的单位电反应的一些观察

我们利用电生理学的方法测定了蟾蜍延脑听反应的区域,并研究了延脑听神经元对短声及纯音的反应特性。结果表明:1.从内耳来的传入冲动主要是向同侧的延脑听区传递的。2.蟾蜍听觉系统感受的频率范围在4,000周/秒以下,对于500—600周/秒以及1,000—1,200周/秒的频率最为敏感。多数听神经元的反应阈值在人听阈上25—35分贝左右。少数在人听阈上5—10分贝或45—55分贝。3.根据短声及特征频率的纯音所引起的反应,可将延脑听神经元的反应分为长潜伏期(平均约12毫秒)及短潜伏期(平均约3毫秒)两种形式。反应潜伏期的长短,可能是由不同类型的神经元的特性所决定的,但在同一神经元,在改变声音刺激的频率或强度时,反应的潜伏期也有变化。4.延脑听神经元对纯音刺激的反应有连续发放的、给声的、给-撤声的以及撤声的几种形式。其中以连续发放的反应形式最为常见。5.有时,纯音引起的连续发放是迭加在振幅达十几毫伏的正相慢波之上的,发放的波形为正单相锋形电位,它的上升相较陡,下降相缓慢。短声也可以引起这样的锋形电位,它们可能是细胞内记录到的反应。     

下丘神经元声信号处理过程中的频谱整合

自由声场条件下,采用特定双声刺激、双电极同步记录方法研究了下丘神经元的频谱整合作用。实验在6只大棕蝠(Eptesicus fuscus)上进行,共获得22对频谱整合相关的配对神经元。结果显示：(1)81．8％(36／44)的配对神经元产生相互抑制性频谱整合,18．2％(8/44)为相互易化性频谱整合;(2)频谱整合的范围主要在20～30kHz之间,其中约一半(45．5％,20/44)的配对神经元其最佳频率差小于2kHz,但也可见最佳频率差大于10kHz的配对神经元(13．6％,6/44)产生频谱整合;(3)下丘神经元的频率及强度选择性受频谱整合作用的调制。推测等频层内及等频层之间的下丘神经元在声信号处理过程中存在相互作用机制,以利于对复杂声信号的加工。     

The influence of the auditory cortex on acoustically evoked cerebellar responses in the CF-FM bat,Rhinolophus pearsonic chinesis

1. Acoustically evoked responses of 284 neurons isolated from the cerebellar vermis, hemispheres and paraflocculus of Rhinolophus pearsonic chinesis were studied under free field acoustic stimulation conditions. 2. The BFs of these cerebellar auditory neurons ranged from 24 to 76 kHz but they mostly fall either between 48 and 64 kHz or between 65 and 76 kHz. However, the BF distribution varies among vermal, hemispheric and parafloccular neurons. 3. Threshold curves of cerebellar neurons are generally broad but those tuned to the frequency of the predominant CF component are extremely narrow. 4. Response latencies of cerebellar neurons ranged from 2 to 48 ms suggesting multiple auditory cerebellar pathways. The latency distribution also varies among vermal, hemispheric and parafloccular neurons. 5. Although both the vermis and hemispheres contain a disproportionate number of 65-74 kHz neurons, the response latencies of those neurons isolated from the vermis are scattered over a wide range of 2.2-28 ms while those neurons isolated from the hemispheres are generally stabilized between 5 and 12 ms. 6. Electrical stimulation of the auditory cortex evokes discharges from a recorded cerebellar auditory neuron. Cortical stimulation also facilitates the response of an acoustically evoked cerebellar neuron by increasing its number of impulses. The degree of facilitation is dependent upon the amplitude of the acoustic stimulus. 7. For a given electrical and acoustic stimulation condition, the facilitative latency and the degree of facilitation varied with the interstimulus interval. Among 23 neurons studied, most of them (19 neurons, 82.6%) had a maximal facilitative latency between 2 and 10 ms. 8. By examining the difference in the facilitative effect in each isolated cerebellar auditory neuron before and after a topical application of local anesthetic, procaine, onto the point of electrical stimulation in the auditory cortex, we found that the facilitative pathways to vermal and hemispheric neurons may be different from the pathway to parafloccular neurons. 9. Possible auditory pathways to different parts of the cerebellum are discussed in relation to the wide range of recorded response latencies. 10. The facilitative influence of the auditory cortex on the cerebellar auditory neurons is assumed to enhance the cerebellar role in acoustic motor orientation.     

Frequency tuning, latencies, and responses to frequency-modulated sweeps in the inferior colliculus of the echolocating bat, Eptesicus fuscus

Neurons in the inferior colliculus (IC) of the awake big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus, were examined for joint frequency and latency response properties which could register the timing of the bat's frequency-modulated (FM) biosonar echoes. Best frequencies (BFs) range from 10 kHz to 100 kHz with 50% tuning widths mostly from 1 kHz to 8 kHz. Neurons respond with one discharge per 2-ms tone burst or FM stimulus at a characteristic latency in the range of 3–45 ms, with latency variability (SD) of 50 μs to 4–6 ms or more. BF distribution is related to biosonar signal structure. As observed previously, on a linear frequency scale BFs appear biased to lower frequencies, with 20–40 kHz overrepresented. However, on a hyperbolic frequency (linear period) scale BFs appear more uniformly distributed, with little overrepresentation. The cumulative proportion of BFs in FM₁ and FM₂ bands reconstructs a scaled version of the spectrogram of FM broadcasts. Correcting FM latencies for absolute BF latencies and BF time-in-sweep reveals a subset of IC cells which respond dynamically to the timing of their BFs in FM sweeps. Behaviorally, Eptesicus perceives echo delay and phase with microsecond or even submicrosecond accuracy and resolution, but even with use of phase-locked FM and tone-burst stimuli the cell-by-cell precision of IC time-frequency registration seems inadequate by itself to account for the temporal acuity exhibited by the bat. Accepted: 21 June 1997     

Sound-evoked oscillation and paradoxical latency shift in the inferior colliculus neurons of the big fruit-eating bat, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Artibeus jamaicensis</Emphasis>

Frequency tuning, temporal response pattern and latency properties of inferior colliculus neurons were investigated in the big fruit-eating bat, Artibeus jamaicensis. Neurons having best frequencies between 48–72 kHz and between 24–32 kHz are overrepresented. The inferior colliculus neurons had either phasic (consisting in only one response cycle at all stimulus intensities) or long-lasting oscillatory responses (consisting of multiple response cycles). Seventeen percent of neurons displayed paradoxical latency shift, i.e. their response latency increased with increasing sound level. Three types of paradoxical latency shift were found: (1) stable, that does not depend on sound duration, (2) duration-dependent, that grows with increasing sound duration, and (3) progressive, whose magnitude increases with increasing sound level. The temporal properties of paradoxical latency shift neurons compare well with those of neurons having long-lasting oscillatory responses, i.e. median inter-spike intervals and paradoxical latency shift below 6 ms are overrepresented. In addition, oscillatory and paradoxical latency shift neurons behave similarly when tested with tones of different durations. Temporal properties of oscillation and PLS found in the IC of fruit-eating bats are similar to those found in the IC of insectivorous bats using downward frequency-modulated echolocation calls.     

Inferior colliculus neuronal response abnormalities in genetically epilepsy-prone rats: evidence for a deficit of inhibition

The genetically epilepsy-prone rat (GEPR) is abnormally susceptible to induction of seizures by acoustic stimulation. The inferior colliculus (IC) is critically important to audiogenic seizure susceptibility. The GEPR is more susceptible to induction of audiogenic seizures at 12 kHz than at other pure tone frequencies. IC neurons in the GEPR exhibit significantly elevated response thresholds and broader tuning characteristics than normal. These findings along with previous neurophysiological and anatomical data suggest that a hearing deficit occurs in the GEPR. IC neurons in the GEPR exhibit a significantly elevated incidence of a response pattern with a peak of activity at the beginning and end of the stimulus, the onset-offset response. This response pattern occurs at 12 kHz and at characteristic frequency with high stimulus intensities and may represent an afterdischarge phenomenon. The onset-offset pattern may be a manifestation of central mechanisms developed to compensate for reduced peripheral auditory input that appears to be involved in the hearing deficit of the GEPR. Such compensatory mechanisms may involve alterations of the actions of neurotransmitters of the brain-stem auditory nuclei. GABA is implicated as an inhibitory transmitter in the IC. Iontophoretic application of GABA or a benzodiazepine produces significantly less inhibition of IC neurons of the GEPR than of the normal rat. Endogenous sound-induced (binaural) inhibition which is suggested to be GABA-mediated is also significantly reduced in IC neurons of the GEPR. Iontophoresis of the GABAA antagonist, bicuculline, often converts normal response patterns in the IC to onset-offset responses seen with high incidence in GEPR IC neurons, suggesting that the decreased effectiveness of GABA may lead to the onset-offset prevalence. This reduced effectiveness of inhibition may be unable to compensate for the rise in the putative excitatory transmitter, aspartate, in IC during high intensity acoustic stimulation in the GEPR. These altered transmitter actions may be important mechanisms subserving initiation of audiogenic seizures in the genetically epilepsy-prone rat.     

普氏蹄蝠下丘谐波主频神经元的时程选择性

为探讨下丘(Inferior colliculus,IC)回声定位信号主频范围内的神经元的时程选择性,在自由声场刺激条件下,我们在4 只普氏蹄蝠的IC 采用不同时程的声刺激,研究了神经元的时程选择性。通过在体细胞外记录,共获得56 个声敏感下丘神经元,其记录深度、最佳频率和最小阈值的范围分别为1547 - 3967 (2878. 9 ±629.1)μm,20 -68 (49.0 ± 11. 1)kHz 和36.5 -95. 5 (59. 8 ±13. 0)dB SPL。根据所记录到的下丘神经元对不同时程的声刺激的反应,即对不同时程的选择性(Duration selectivity),将其分为6 种类型:短通型(Short-pass,SP,n = 11/56)、带通型(Band-pass,BP,n = 1/56)、长通型(Long-pass,LP,n = 5 /56)、反带通型(Band-reject,BR,n = 3 /56)、多峰型(Multi-peak,MP,n =6 /56)和全通型(All-pass,AP,n =30 /56)或非时程选择型(Nonduration-selective,NDS)。通过比较普氏蹄蝠下丘谐波主频内和主频外神经元的时程选择性,我们发现处于回声定位信号主频范围内神经元(n =32)比主频外神经元(n = 24)具有更短的最佳时程和更高的时程选择性。结果提示,在普氏蹄蝠回声定位过程中谐波主频内神经元较谐波主频外神经元发挥了更为重要的作用。