Cellular mechanisms for preservation of timing in central auditory pathways

Abstract

The faithful preservation of acoustic timing information, as signals are passed from one synaptic level to another, requires a convergence of morphological, biophysical, and biochemical specializations in auditory neurons. Recent studies have focused on the adaptive membrane properties of neurons in the auditory brainstem. These include analyses of neurotransmitter receptors and voltage-gated channels, as well as the mechanisms of transmitter release and its modulation. The molecular composition of the relevant proteins are now being demonstrated, including the glutamate receptor Dflop (GluR-Dflop) subunit of AMPA receptors and members of the Kv1 and Kv3 families of potassium channels.