Identification of an inhibitory neuron subtype, the L-stellate cell of the cochlear nucleus

Auditory processing depends upon inhibitory signaling by interneurons, even at its earliest stages in the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN). Remarkably, to date only a single subtype of inhibitory neuron has been documented in the VCN, a projection neuron termed the D-stellate cell. With the use of a t...

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Main Authors: Tenzin Ngodup, Gabriel E Romero, Laurence O Trussell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: eLife Sciences Publications Ltd 2020-11-01
Series:eLife
Subjects:
Online Access:https://elifesciences.org/articles/54350
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author Tenzin Ngodup
Gabriel E Romero
Laurence O Trussell
author_facet Tenzin Ngodup
Gabriel E Romero
Laurence O Trussell
author_sort Tenzin Ngodup
collection DOAJ
description Auditory processing depends upon inhibitory signaling by interneurons, even at its earliest stages in the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN). Remarkably, to date only a single subtype of inhibitory neuron has been documented in the VCN, a projection neuron termed the D-stellate cell. With the use of a transgenic mouse line, optical clearing, and imaging techniques, combined with electrophysiological tools, we revealed a population of glycinergic cells in the VCN distinct from the D-stellate cell. These multipolar glycinergic cells were smaller in soma size and dendritic area, but over ten-fold more numerous than D-stellate cells. They were activated by auditory nerve and T-stellate cells, and made local inhibitory synaptic contacts on principal cells of the VCN. Given their abundance, combined with their narrow dendritic fields and axonal projections, it is likely that these neurons, here termed L-stellate cells, play a significant role in frequency-specific processing of acoustic signals.
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spelling doaj.art-ae653638f2c9436882698a6ae1f1c5be2022-12-22T03:37:59ZengeLife Sciences Publications LtdeLife2050-084X2020-11-01910.7554/eLife.54350Identification of an inhibitory neuron subtype, the L-stellate cell of the cochlear nucleusTenzin Ngodup0Gabriel E Romero1Laurence O Trussell2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1171-2356Oregon Hearing Research Center and Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, United StatesPhysiology and Pharmacology Graduate Program, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, United StatesOregon Hearing Research Center and Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, United StatesAuditory processing depends upon inhibitory signaling by interneurons, even at its earliest stages in the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN). Remarkably, to date only a single subtype of inhibitory neuron has been documented in the VCN, a projection neuron termed the D-stellate cell. With the use of a transgenic mouse line, optical clearing, and imaging techniques, combined with electrophysiological tools, we revealed a population of glycinergic cells in the VCN distinct from the D-stellate cell. These multipolar glycinergic cells were smaller in soma size and dendritic area, but over ten-fold more numerous than D-stellate cells. They were activated by auditory nerve and T-stellate cells, and made local inhibitory synaptic contacts on principal cells of the VCN. Given their abundance, combined with their narrow dendritic fields and axonal projections, it is likely that these neurons, here termed L-stellate cells, play a significant role in frequency-specific processing of acoustic signals.https://elifesciences.org/articles/54350auditorycell typesglycinecochlear nucleus
spellingShingle Tenzin Ngodup
Gabriel E Romero
Laurence O Trussell
Identification of an inhibitory neuron subtype, the L-stellate cell of the cochlear nucleus
eLife
auditory
cell types
glycine
cochlear nucleus
title Identification of an inhibitory neuron subtype, the L-stellate cell of the cochlear nucleus
title_full Identification of an inhibitory neuron subtype, the L-stellate cell of the cochlear nucleus
title_fullStr Identification of an inhibitory neuron subtype, the L-stellate cell of the cochlear nucleus
title_full_unstemmed Identification of an inhibitory neuron subtype, the L-stellate cell of the cochlear nucleus
title_short Identification of an inhibitory neuron subtype, the L-stellate cell of the cochlear nucleus
title_sort identification of an inhibitory neuron subtype the l stellate cell of the cochlear nucleus
topic auditory
cell types
glycine
cochlear nucleus
url https://elifesciences.org/articles/54350
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