Sources of input to the cochlear granule cell region in the guinea pig

Anterograde and retrograde transport of fluorogold was used to trace input to the superficial granule cell layer of the ventral cochlear nucleus in the guinea pig. Infusion of fluorogold into the labyrinth resulted in heavy labeling of eighth nerve axons and their terminals in the ventral cochlear nucleus, but only a few labeled axons entered the granule cell layer. Injections of fluorogold restricted to the granule cell layer retrogradely labeled neurons in the ipsilateral lateral superior olivary nucleus, in the periolivary region predominantly contralaterally, and in the inferior colliculus predominantly ipsilaterally. Labeled neurons were also present in the ipsilateral ventral cochlear nucleus, but this may be due to interruption of axons of passage in the lateral ventrotubercular tract. Overall this study demonstrates very restricted direct cochlear input to the granule cell region, but provides evidence for projections from several brainstem auditory nuclei.