Auditory and non-auditory subcortical afferents to the inferior colliculus in the rat

Afferent projections to the rat inferior colliculus (IC) were studied by using the method of retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Microinjection of HRP revealed an ordery arrangement of fiber projections between the cochlear and the central nucleus of IC; it entails a reversal of the dorso-ventral nucleotopic organization. An indistinct dorso-lateral nucleotopic projection was found between the lateral superior olivary nucleus and the central nucleus. Small number of neurons in some brainstem non-auditory structures were always labeled: the parabrachial region of the midbrain lateral tegmentum, the pars lateralis of substantia nigra, dorsal part of the central gray matter at a caudal 2/3 level of IC, and deep layers of the superior colliculus, ipsilaterally, and the spinal trigeminal and posterior column nuclei, contralaterally. Small injection restricted within the external and pericentral nuclei (cortical zone) of IC resulted in a higher distribution ratio of labeled neurons in the non-auditory structures as compared with those in the central nucleus. On the other hand, the ratio in the brainstem auditory nuclei decreased definitely after HRP-injection within the cortical zone, with an exception of the ipsilateral central nucleus of IC which contained many labeled cells following the injections in the cortical zone. The present results suggest a dual function of the inferior colliculus. The central nucleus acts as a relay station in the main auditory system, while the cortical zone, with its converging auditory, visual and somatic inputs, may act as a subcortical integration center for acoustico-motor behavior.