Do cochlear nuclei contribute to auditory lateralization? A stereological evaluation of neuron numbers

The aim of this study was to estimate the total number of cells in the subdivisions of the cochlear nucleus (CN) of the rat with unbiased stereological methods. The total number of neurons was determined in both the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN) and the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) to compare the right and left sides. The total cell numbers were 15,280 in the left VCN, 15,400 in the right VCN, 10,260 in the left DCN, and 10,860 in the right DCN. Comparison of the right and left major subdivisions of the CN of the rat showed that there was no significant difference between the right and left sides of the rat CN. This result indicates that the CNs do not contribute to auditory lateralization in the rat in regard to cell numbers.