Quantitative comparison of frequency representation in the auditory brainstem nuclei of the gerbil, Pachyuromys duprasi.

Frequency representation in the auditory brainstem nuclei of the fattailed gerbil (Pachyuromys duprasi) was studied by focal iontophoretic HRP injections into the cochlear nucleus at physiologically characterized positions. Tuning curves of cochlear nucleus neurons were determined by extracellular recording of multi-unit spike activity prior to HRP application. Neurons with characteristic frequencies of 0.55 to 17.5 kHz were recorded. Anterograde labeling of synaptic terminal fields demonstrated a tonotopic arrangement of frequencies within the cochlear nucleus subdivisions and the lateral and medial superior olivary nuclei. In all nuclei investigated terminal fields were arranged in isofrequency planes. In the subdivisions of the cochlear nucleus and in the lateral superior olive the frequency range from 0.55 to 17.5 kHz was represented. In the medial superior olive on the other hand, frequency representation was restricted to frequencies below 3.5 kHz. Quantitative evaluation of tonotopy showed that the frequency representation in the anteroventral and posteroventral cochlear nucleus and lateral superior olive were very similar. The amount of tissue-volume processing one octave varied within the hearing range. The frequency range of highest auditory sensitivity (between 1 and 5 kHz) occupied up to 25% nuclear tissue/octave, while at the upper and lower limits of the hearing range, frequencies were represented by a ratio of 10-15% nuclear tissue/octave. The frequency representation pattern in these brainstem nuclei reflected exactly the frequency place map of the cochlea.