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Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 2, 791-805, Copyright © 1982 by Society for Neuroscience
A primary acoustic startle circuit: lesion and stimulation studies
M Davis, DS Gendelman, MD Tischler and PM Gendelman
The latency of the acoustic startle reflex in the rat is 8 msec, measured
from tone onset to the beginning of the electromyographic response in the
hindleg. This extremely short latency indicates that only a few synapses
could be involved in some primary acoustic startle circuit. Acoustic
startle is being used as a model system for studying habituation,
sensitization, prepulse inhibition, classical conditioning, fear or
anxiety, and drug effects on behavior. The present study attempted to
delineate a short latency acoustic startle circuit, since this would
provide critical information for further study in all of these areas.
Bilateral lesions of the ventral cochlear nucleus, which receives the
primary auditory input, abolish acoustic startle. Electrical, single pulse
stimulation of the ventral cochlear nucleus elicits startle-like responses
with a latency of about 7 msec. Bilateral lesions of the dorsal and ventral
nuclei of the lateral lemniscus, which receive direct input from the
ventral cochlear nuclei, abolish acoustic startle. Electrical stimulation
of these nuclei elicits startle-like responses with a latency of about 6
msec. Bilateral lesions of ventral regions of the nucleus reticularis
pontis caudalis, which contain cell bodies that give rise to the
reticulospinal tract, abolish acoustic startle. Electrical stimulation of
these points elicits startle-like responses with a latency of about 5 msec.
Reaction product from horseradish peroxidase iontophoresed into this area
is found in the nuclei of the lateral lemniscus. In contrast, lesions of
the dorsal cochlear nuclei, vestibular nuclei, nucleus reticularis pontis
oralis, nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis, and dorsal regions of the
nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis fail to abolish acoustic startle. Also,
"startle" cannot be elicited electrically from these areas. The data
suggest that a primary acoustic startle circuit in the rat consists of
auditory nerve, ventral cochlear nucleus, nuclei of the lateral lemniscus,
nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis, spinal interneuron, lower motor
neuron, and muscles. Hence, five synapses, plus the neuromuscular junction,
are probably involved.
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