Auditory Nerve Root Stimulation and Postsynaptic Current Recordings in a Mouse Brain Wedge Slice

Secure a transgenic mouse brain wedge slice in a recording chamber perfused with oxygenated aCSF.

The thicker wedge side contains the auditory nerve root and cochlear nucleus, including T-stellate and globular bushy cells.

The thinner side contains the medial and ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body with fluorescent medial olivocochlear neurons.

Microscopically locate the auditory nerve root and position a stimulating electrode on it.

Identify a fluorescent medial olivocochlear neuron and advance a recording pipette toward it.

Patch the neuron to achieve a whole-cell configuration and record its electrical activity.

Apply electrical pulses to the auditory nerve root, activating cochlear nucleus cells.

Activated T-stellate cells release excitatory neurotransmitters to the medial olivocochlear neurons.

However, globular bushy cells activate inhibitory pathways, releasing inhibitory neurotransmitters to the medial olivocochlear neurons.

The integration of the excitatory and inhibitory signals results in postsynaptic currents, confirming neuronal activity within the slice.