Evidence of inhibitory interactions between neurons in dorsal cochlear nucleus.

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Abstract
The response properties of single neurons in the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) of unanesthetized decerebrate cats can be divided into 2 general classes: type IV cells have broad response areas that are predominantly inhibitory; type II/III cells have V-shaped central excitatory areas that are usually flanked by inhibitory side bands. Pairs of neurons in the DCN were recorded simultaneously with a single microelectrode. The spike trains of the 2 neurons of a pair were separated and examined for signs of interaction using cross-correlation techniques. Cross-correlograms were obtained for 17 pairs consisting of a type II/III unit and a type IV unit. In 12 of these cases there was an inhibitory trough in the cross-correlogram that corresponded to a decrease in the type IV''s discharge rate immediately following spikes in the type II/III cell. Four additional pairs had no significant feature in their cross-correlogram and 1 pair had a complex cross-correlogram with no inhibitory trough. Cross-correlograms were obtained for 20 pairs consisting of 2 type IV units. In half the cases there were no significant features in the cross-correlograms. In 7 cases the cross-correlograms had a pair of excitatory peaks in the vicinity of the origin, which are most likely due to the effects of shared input. The remaining 3 cases had complex cross-correlograms. The response maps of the 2 units in all type IV-type IV pairs overlapped extensively. The type II/III responses are recorded from interneurons in the DCN that contribute inhibitory terminals to cells with type IV response properties.

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