Cartwheel Cells

Cartwheel cells constitute a prominent group of neurons within the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN), where they outnumber other inhibitory interneurons. Positioned superficially in the pyramidal layer of the DCN, these cells receive input from the parallel fibers of the granule cell layer through their dendrites. Although their axons are confined to the dorsal cochlear nucleus, they form synaptic connections with other cartwheel cells and pyramidal cells within the DCN, releasing neurotransmitters like GABA and glycine onto their targets. Characterized by soma placement, dendritic structure, and neurotransmitter release patterns, cartwheel cells exhibit spiking patterns reminiscent of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum. The similarities extend to features such as complex spike bursts and simple spikes. Morphologically, cartwheel cells possess myelinated axons, a spherical cell shape, and medium-sized cell bodies, accompanied by a high density of spines on their dendrites. The principal targets of cartwheel cells are the large efferent pyramidal neurons located in layer two of the DCN. Research indicates that the modulation of pyramidal cell activity by cartwheel cells plays a pivotal role in shaping the overall output of the superficial layers of the dorsal cochlear nucleus.