Year: 1978
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: It was previously reported that several substances, including glutamate, decreased the magnitude of the compound action potential of the cochlear nerve. [R. P. Bobbin, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 60, S79 (A) (1976)]. This effect could mean the substances induced asynchronous firing in the cochlear nerve. To test this hypothesis, the bony wall over the scala tympani of the basal turn was removed from guinea pig cochleas and small holes made in Rosenthal's canal from which spontaneous, single-unit activity was recorded with 3M KCl micro-electrodes. Addition of glutamate (50 mM) at a rate of 2μ L/min for approximately 5 min to the opening in the scala tympani significantly increased the spontaneous firing rate of the single units; both aspartate (50 mM) and Ringer's were less active. This activity of glutamate may be taken as further evidence that glutamate may be the afferent transmitter substance. [Supported in part by NIH (USPHS, Grant NS-11647) and The Kresge Foundation.]
DOI: 10.1121/1.2016770
Authors: R. P. Bobbin, M. H. Thompson
Language: English
Subfield: Sensory Systems
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2039073954