Intrinsic properties of identified neurones in the central nucleus of mouse inferior colliculus.

The intrinsic properties of morphologically identified neurones in the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (ICC) were investigated using a mouse brain slice preparation. Thirty-four neurones were physiologically characterized and classified into three response types: onset, intermediate and sustained. Thirteen were stained intracellularly and appeared to be multipolar cells spanning several fibrodendritic laminae of the ICC with their dendritic trees. Onset-type neurones showed only a small afterhyperpolarization and often a rectification to depolarizing current pulses. Thus, the suggestion is put forward that onset-type cells are especially well suited for coincidence detection of incoming auditory stimuli over a broad range of frequencies, whereas sustained-type neurones may perform different tasks in integrating and regulating the auditory input to the ICC.