Abstract：
The auditory midbrain, also known as the inferior colliculus (IC), serves as a crucial hub in the auditory pathway. Comprising diverse cell types, the IC plays a pivotal role in various auditory functions, including sound localization, auditory plasticity, sound detection, and sound-induced behaviors. Notably, the IC is implicated in several auditory central disorders, such as tinnitus, age-related hearing loss, autism and Fragile X syndrome. Accurate classification of IC neurons is vital for comprehending both normal and dysfunctional aspects of IC function. Various parameters, including dendritic morphology, neurotransmitter synthesis, potassium currents, biomarkers, and axonal targets, have been employed to identify distinct neuron types within the IC. However, the challenge persists in effectively classifying IC neurons into functional categories due to the limited clustering capabilities of most parameters. Recent studies utilizing advanced neuroscience technologies have begun to shed light on biomarker-based approaches in the IC, providing insights into specific cellular properties and offering a potential avenue for understanding IC functions. This review focuses on recent advancements in IC research, spanning from neurons and neural circuits to aspects related to auditory diseases.
摘要：
听觉中脑，也称为下丘（IC），作为听觉通路的关键枢纽。包括不同的细胞类型，IC在各种听觉功能中起着举足轻重的作用，包括声音定位，听觉可塑性，声音检测,和声音诱导的行为。值得注意的是,IC与几种听觉中枢紊乱有关，比如耳鸣,年龄相关的听力损失,自闭症和脆性X综合征。IC神经元的准确分类对于理解IC功能的正常和功能失调方面至关重要。各种参数，包括树突形态，神经递质合成，钾电流，生物标志物，和轴突目标，已经被用来识别IC内不同的神经元类型。然而,由于大多数参数的聚类能力有限，因此在将IC神经元有效地分类为功能类别时仍然存在挑战。最近利用先进神经科学技术的研究已经开始阐明IC中基于生物标志物的方法，提供对特定细胞特性的见解，并提供理解IC功能的潜在途径。这篇综述集中在IC研究的最新进展，从神经元和神经回路到与听觉疾病相关的方面。
