SOUND INDUCED EXPRESSION OF C-FOS IN GABA POSITIVE NEURONS OF THE GERBIL COCHLEAR NUCLEUS

To characterize c-Fos-expressing neurones in more detail, a double lab elling technique was developed to simultaneously demonstrate the prese nce of GABA-like and c-Fos-like immunoreactivity in cryostat sections of the gerbil cochlear nucleus. The animals were exposed to a wide-ban d noise stimulus for the induction of c-Fos expression. The distributi on of c-Fos-positive cells and GABA-positive somata was consistent wit h previous reports. Our double labelling approach revealed the presenc e of GABA-positive cells that showed c-Fos expression after noise stim ulation. One interpretation of this finding is that a prolonged acoust ic exposure induces long term changes in inhibitory interneurones to a djust the output of the cochlear nucleus.