[Interaction between auditory and trigeminal afferent volleys in the dorsal cochlear nucleus of rats]

In chloralose anaesthetized rats preliminary electrical stimulation of the second branch of the trigeminal nerve diminished the amplitude of all component of the evoked potential produced by click, when the interval between conditioning and testing stimuli was up to 40 ms. Only late negative-positive component of the evoked potential was depressed when the interval between the stimuli was increased. The conclusion is made that the afferent inflow to the dorsal cochlear nucleus is controlled by peripheral mechanisms changing the sensory input and by central descending inhibitory influences on the nucleus.