Effects of cochlear ablation on amino acid levels in the rat cochlear nucleus and superior olive.

Amino acids have important roles in the chemistry of the auditory system, including communication among neurons. There is much evidence for glutamate as a neurotransmitter from auditory nerve fibers to cochlear nucleus neurons. Previous studies in rodents have examined effects of removal of auditory nerve input by cochlear ablation on levels, uptake and release of glutamate in cochlear nucleus subdivisions, as well as on glutamate receptors.

Depolarization-induced release of amino acids from the vestibular nuclear complex.

There is evidence from immunohistochemistry, quantitative microchemistry, and pharmacology for several amino acids as neurotransmitters in the vestibular nuclear complex (VNC), including glutamate, γ-aminobutyrate (GABA), and glycine. However, evidence from measurements of release has been limited. The purpose of this study was to measure depolarization-stimulated calcium-dependent release of amino acids from the VNC in brain slices.

Changes of amino acid concentrations in the rat vestibular nuclei after midline lesions.

Changes in concentrations of amino acids, especially GABA, glutamate, and aspartate, occur in vestibular nuclei after removal of cerebellar and labyrinth inputs. Here, we examined the effects of transecting midline-crossing connections between the two vestibular nuclear complexes, which especially include commissural connections. Three rats were euthanized at each of 2, 7, and 30 days after a midline cut at the level of the vestibular nuclei.

Amino acid concentrations in chinchilla cochlear nucleus at different times after carboplatin treatment.

Amino acid concentrations were measured in the cochlear nucleus for a group of 20 chinchillas: four each of control and 4, 8, 29, and 85 days after treatment with the ototoxic anti-tumor drug carboplatin (100 mg/kg, i.p.).

Effects of unilateral vestibular ganglionectomy on glutaminase activity in the vestibular nerve root and vestibular nuclear complex of the rat.

The metabolism of glutamate, the most likely neurotransmitter of vestibular ganglion cells, includes synthesis from glutamine by the enzyme glutaminase. We used microdissection combined with a fluorometric assay to measure glutaminase activity in the vestibular nerve root and nuclei of rats with unilateral vestibular ganglionectomy. Glutaminase activity in the lesioned-side vestibular nerve root decreased by 62% at 4 days after ganglionectomy and remained at similar values through 30 days.

Effects of carboplatin on amino acid chemistry in chinchilla cochlear nucleus.

Carboplatin, a drug widely used against solid head and neck tumors, selectively destroys cochlear inner hair cells and type I auditory nerve fibers in chinchilla. This should affect neurotransmitter chemistry, involving amino acids, where the type I auditory nerve fibers terminate in the cochlear nucleus. Using microdissection combined with high-performance liquid chromatography, amino acid concentrations were mapped in the cochlear nuclei of chinchillas injected intraperitoneally 6-8 weeks earlier with 100 mg/kg carboplatin and in those of control animals.