Central processing of complex auditory tasks requires elaborate circuitry. The auditory midbrain, or inferior colliculus (IC), epitomizes such precise organization, where converging inputs form discrete, tonotopically-arranged axonal layers. Previously in rat, we established that shaping of multiple afferent patterns in the IC central nucleus (CNIC) occurs prior to experience. This study implicates an Eph receptor tyrosine kinase and a corresponding ephrin ligand in signaling this early topographic registry. We report that EphA4 and ephrin-B2 expression patterns in the neonatal rat and mouse IC correlate temporally and spatially with that of developing axonal layers. DiI-labeling confirms projections arising from the lateral superior olive (LSO) form frequency-specific layers within the ipsilateral and contralateral mouse CNIC, as has been described in other species. Immunohistochemistry (EphA4 and ephrin-B2) and ephrin-B2 lacZ histochemistry reveal clear gradients in expression across the tonotopic axis, with most concentrated labeling observed in high-frequency, ventromedial aspects of the CNIC. Discrete patches of labeling were also discernible in the external cortex of the IC (ECIC; EphA4 patches in rat, ephrin-B2 patches in mouse). Observed gradients in the CNIC and compartmentalized ECIC expression persisted through the first postnatal week, before becoming less intense and more homogeneously distributed by the functional onset of hearing. EphA4 and ephrin-B2-positive neurons were evident in several auditory brainstem nuclei known to send patterened inputs to the IC. These findings suggest the involvement of cell-cell EphA4 and ephrin-B2 signaling in establishing order in the developing IC.

The adsorption of CO on hydrated 5 wt % Ru/Al 2 O 3 produced ν CO absorbance features at ∼2048, 1992, and 1924 cm -1 that are red-shifted by 50-116 cm -1 from those seen in the absence of water (2020-2040, 2080, and 2140 cm -1 ). This red-shift most likely arises from dipole-dipole interaction between coadsorbed CO and water molecules since (1) the exact frequency of the ν CO absorbance feature depends upon the amount of coadsorbed water and (2) the presence of flowing liquid water further red-shifts the frequencies. These ν CO absorbance features are uncorrelated, since the relative intensities of the ν CO absorbances at 2049, 1992, and 1924 cm -1 depend on the amount of coadsorbed water and CO on the surface. Temperature programmed desorption done with TGA-MS indicated three different high-temperature CO 2 desorption peaks. These CO 2 peaks (T ≈ 350, 400, and 550 °C) are most likely the result of the oxidation of adsorbed CO reacting with surface adsorbed water (CO ads + H 2 O ads f H 2 + CO 2 ) and/or the disproportionation of CO (2CO f C ads + CO 2 ). These high-temperature CO 2 desorption peaks suggest that CO strongly adsorbs to hydrated 5 wt % Ru/Al 2 O 3 catalysts. This is corroborated by the fact that intensities of the ν CO absorbance features do not decrease in the presence of flowing liquid water.