[Ascending input from dorsal nuclei of lateral lemniscus mediates the plasticity of inferior colliculus neurons in mice].

The auditory system has the ability to adjust its structure and function as the environment changes, which is called auditory plasticity. In the auditory system, inferior colliculus (IC) is an important relay station, which accepts the ascending inputs from dorsal nuclei of lateral lemniscus (DNLL). The present study was aimed to investigate the role of the DNLL in the formation of the plasticity of IC neurons. Here, we used extracellular single unit recording and electrical stimulation to investigate the plasticity of IC neurons in Kunming mice. The results showed that after the cessation of 30-minute electrical stimulation on contralateral DNLL, 95% of the inhibited IC neurons and 86% of the facilitated IC neurons showed plastic changes. Moreover, 1 h after the contralateral DNLL stimulation was stopped, the plastic changes in 74% of the inhibited IC neurons vanished, but still were maintained in 26% of the inhibited IC neurons. These results suggest that the contralateral DNLL ascending input can induce plastic changes of IC neurons, and this kind of effect can be maintained for a certain period of time, which is beneficial to enhance the sound intensity sensitivity of IC neurons.