Neuroprotective effects of TJ-23 (Tokishakuyakusan) on adult rat motoneurons following peripheral facial nerve axotomy.

Objective: We investigated free radical scavenging activity and the possible neuroprotective effect of Tokishakuyakusan (TJ-23) on facial motor nucleus (FMN) motoneurons after peripheral axotomy.

Study Design: In 40 adult rats, the right facial nerve was transected at the level of the stylomastoid foramen. Following axotomy, the effects of TJ-23 on nitric oxide synthase were investigated using NADPH-d histochemistry.

Neuronal organization of the rat inferior colliculus participating in four major auditory pathways.

The central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (CNIC) contains different types of neurons and is a source of ascending projection to the medial geniculate body (MGB), commissural projection to the contralateral IC, direct descending projection to the cochlea nucleus (CN) and indirect projection to the CN via the superior olivary complex (SOC). Using a retrograde tracing technique, we examined what kind of neurons and what percentage of neurons of each type recognized in the CNIC participated in the above-mentioned four projection pathways. We also examined whether the individual CNIC neurons send the collateral to the MGB, the contralateral IC, the CN and the SOC.